Mary Mitchell Slessor (2 December 1848 – 13 January 1915)

Mary Mitchell Slessor (2 December 1848 – 13 January 1915) was a Scottish missionary to Nigeria. Her work and strong personality allowed her to be trusted and accepted by the locals while spreading Christianity and promoting women's rights. The birth of twins was considered an evil curse. People feared the father of one of the infants was an evil spirit, and that the mother had been guilty of a great sin. Twin babies were often abandoned in the bush. Mary adopted every child that she found abandoned, and set out twins missioners to find, protect and care for them at the Mission House. She is pictured here with her adopted children Jean, Alice, Maggie and May.