[1]BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Janet Thompson Hoffman, who served as president of WMU, SBC, from 2000 until 2005, passed away June 15, 2026, at the age of 90. She was born on July 12, 1935, in Tulsa, Okla., to Mildred Siler Thompson and James Scott Thompson. She trusted Jesus as Savior at age 11, a faith from which she never departed.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Baylor University in 1956 and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1993. She served as a secondary school teacher (English, speech, Spanish) in Texas.
She was married to her beloved husband, Harvey W. Hoffman, Jr., for 63 years, walking beside him with grace, resilience and unwavering commitment as he attended seminary and pastored 10 Southern Baptist churches in Texas and Louisiana.
Hoffman wrote numerous articles and books, the latest being, “ChristLight: Reflecting the Image of Christ in the Real World,” published in 2004 by Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU). She held multiple roles within the Southern Baptist Convention through associations as well as state conventions. She served on the WMU boards of both Texas and Louisiana.
Hoffman’s years of service on the executive board of WMU SBC, coincided with that of Wanda Lee, executive director emerita and president emerita of national WMU. Hoffman and Lee were both members of the executive board – Hoffman representing Louisiana and Lee representing Georgia – before they served as national officers. From 1996 until 2000, Hoffman served as recording secretary and Lee as president of WMU, SBC. Then from 2000 until 2005, Hoffman served as president and Lee as executive director-treasurer, a role Lee held until her retirement in 2016.
“Janet’s profound wisdom and grace were instrumental during many years of great change as she led with passion and a steadfast commitment to engaging the church in missions,” Lee reflected. “Janet was a tremendous blessing to me personally and to WMU. She provided the wise and seasoned leadership that WMU needed at that precise time. Hers is a life truly well-lived, a life that reflected a love for the Lord and for others.”
[2]Hoffman inspired Christ followers to live missionally, challenged churches to prioritize the Great Commission, and helped shape strategic conversations about the future of WMU ministry.
“My first encounter with Janet was a leadership lesson I’ve never forgotten,” said Sandy Wisdom-Martin, executive director-treasurer of WMU, SBC. “It was the summer of 1991 at WMU Week at Glorieta, New Mexico. During an evening session, participants were invited to visit with one another. Janet could have conversed with honored dignitaries nearby. She chose to invest her time in me. You can’t imagine how that made a brand-new state WMU staffer feel. Janet interacted with everyone without regard to position, prestige or platform. She had a gift for finding the one in need of her encouragement.”
Reflecting upon her life, Hoffman once wrote:
God has blessed me with pray-ers and missions mentors all my life; and I have come to understand that He wants to use the gifts He has given me to bless others. He has used every experience in my life to prepare me for some kind of ministry opportunity which came later. His faithfulness through the valleys as well as the mountain tops has been constant. He uses my many weaknesses to reveal His might and power. I am just one willing vessel who is privileged to be a missions advocate and hopefully a relational bridge builder within WMU and beyond. As the beneficiary of prayers of our WMU family, I am blessed with the Lord’s incredible presence, peace and joy!
She enjoyed writing, painting, public speaking, drama, reading, counted cross-stitch, sewing, fishing and golf.
Left to cherish her memory are her children: Shelda Hoffman Reeves and husband Dennis of Bullard, Texas; the Rev. Bill Hoffman and wife Terri of St. Joe, Ark.; and the Rev. Jeffrey Hoffman and wife Angela of Hornbeck, La.; grandchildren: Darla Hoffman O’Brien of Shreveport, La.; James Cooke and wife Monica of Austin, Texas; Lauren Hoffman Jennings and husband Aaron of St. Joe, Ark.; and Dr. Madison Hoffman Thrower and husband Chase of Mobile, Ala.; four great-grandsons: Joseph Cooke, Noah Cooke, Benjamin Cooke, and Charlie Cooke of Austin, Texas; and great-granddaughter Haddie Jennings.
[3]A service honoring Hoffman’s life was held at Evergreen Baptist Church, 1380 E. Evergreen Road, Bernice, LA 71222 on Thursday, June 18.
Memorials may be made to the Wanda Lee Joy Fund, c/o WMU Foundation, 100 Missionary Ridge, Birmingham, AL 35242.
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