Elizabeth Coles Bouey was born in 1890 in Liberia to American missionaries, Reverend John J. Coles and Lucy Anne Henry Coles. She came to Virginia early as a child to be educated, and graduated Armstrong High School in Richmond, Virginia as the class valedictorian. She studied at the Armstrong Normal School and attended the theological seminary at Virginia Union University, a Black Baptist university in Richmond and also earned a master’s degree from Columbia University. In 1920, Elizabeth married Edward H. Bouey, also the son of missionary parents who had lived in Africa. The pair traveled to Liberia for a mission lasting nearly five years, where they also had two children and adopted a Golah son. They continued their work in Africa under the Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention, under which they built the Carrie Dyer Hospital in Monrovia, Liberia. Upon her return the United States, Bouey worked as a school teacher, and also continued to lead Bible classes at Mt. Cavalry Baptist Church in Richmond. She spoke in radio broadcasts and various groups nationally. In 1941, she founded the National Association of Ministers’ Wives to provide training for ministers’ wives. She served the association as president until her death in 1957.

Sources:

"Dr. Elizabeth Coles Bouey," International Association of Ministers' Wives and Ministers' Widows. Accessed December 6, 2022. https://www.iamwmw.org/founder.

"Elizabeth Coles Bouey," Virginia Changemakers. Accessed December 7, 2022. https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/items/show/40