Mary Lucile Saunders, 94, former Baptist missionary to China and the Philippines, died August 2, at the Baptist retirement home in Culpeper after a long illness. There were no immediate survivors.

She was born in Battle Creek, MI, to the late Dr. and Mrs. J. R. Saunders, Baptist missionaries to China. She received a B.S. degree from Westhampton College, a masters of religious education from the Woman's Missionary Union Training School in Louisville KY; a master of arts degree from George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville TN. She also studied at the School of Social Work at Columbia University and at the New York Institute of Photography, both in NYC, NY.

She was appointed a Southern Baptist missionary to China in 1939. She taught at the Baptist Girls School in Wushien (formerly Soochow) and the University of Shanghai and worked with the China Baptist Publicacion Society in Shanghai. During World War II, she was confined for a time by Japanese forces and later put in protective custody by the Chinese Communist forces after they took over Shanghai, before she retured to the U.S. in 1943. She was on stateside assignment until after World War II and then the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board sent her to Japan to photograph Baptist work in that country. In 1952, she transferred as a missionary to the Philippines. She spent years with the editorial department of the Baptist Center in Manila helping write, edit, take photographs, and train others in publication work. She retired in May 1978. Her retirement years were spent as a conference speaker, especially at Baptist camps with youth missions organizations.

She was an active member of Second Baptist Church in Richmond, serving as a Sunday School teacher and adult choir member.

Because of her interest in the religious education of young girls, the Mary Lucile Saunders Missionary Circle has established a scholarship fund to send girls to church camps. Checks may be written to Second Baptist Church Saunders Scholarship Fund.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, September 25, at 2 pm in Powell Chapel at Second Baptist Church, 9614 River Road, Richmond VA 23229, with a reception following the service.