Pam Joy Money

Former Abilene Christian University first lady Pam Money, 81, died Nov. 25, 2024, in Abilene, Texas.

She was born Nov. 10, 1943, in Richmond, California, and earned three degrees from ACU: a B.S.Ed. and M.S.Ed. (1967) in elementary education, and a master’s in marriage and family therapy (1986).

A month after graduating in three and a half years, she wed classmate Dr. Royce Money on Jan. 23, 1965, in San Antonio, Texas, and they lived in Silver Spring, Maryland; Montgomery, Alabama; Springfield, Missouri; and Waco and Dallas, Texas, while he served in various ministry roles.

Along the way, she taught preschool and kindergarten, and first and second grade. Later, she taught part time as an adjunct instructor in ACU’s Department of Teacher Education – including as a supervisor of student teachers – and as adjunct professor in the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry.

They moved to Abilene in 1981 when Royce joined ACU’s Marriage and Family Institute faculty. He became director of the ministry program in Bible (1984), then director of the Doctor of Ministry program, chair of graduate Bible and ministry, and provost.

When Royce was inaugurated as their alma mater’s 10th president in 1991, they were the first U.S. university president and first lady to be licensed marriage and family therapists. She was a clinical member and he was previously an approved supervisor in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

She also served on the Abilene boards of Hendrick Health Hospice Care, Serenity House and Global Samaritan Resources Inc.

They are namesakes of the Royce and Pam Money Student Recreation and Wellness Center, a campus focal point and student-centric venue opened in 2011 that includes the Weber Medical and Counseling Care Center and is the home of a dynamic intramural program.

She and Royce hosted annual Walk With Money events to raise funds for Women for Abilene Christian University scholarships and projects; were presenters at the annual National Family Conference hosted by Herald of Truth; hosted “Fit to be Tied” marital preparation seminars, and “Positive Parenting” and “Divorce Recovery” workshops; spoke at the Pepperdine University Lectures on ministering to families in crisis, and at Abilene’s first “Saving Our Families: Family Outreach Training Seminar.”

The couple’s marital relationship was front and center in their daily life, careers and in their unique joint ministry of Christian higher education.  Pam eventually changed her focus from classroom education to her private practice at Child and Family Guidance clinic in Abilene, then to her relationships with college students, mentoring hundreds of young men and women. She eventually allowed her licensing credentials to expire, but not her work.

The Pam Money Endowed Scholarship for Teacher Education was established in 2010 at Abilene Christian, where she also served on the President’s Council for the Centennial and was a member of Women for ACU.

The couple’s last collaborative academic venture with students was in the 2010-11 school year, when they served as visiting faculty in Fall 2010 in Oxford, England, and Spring 2011 in Leipzig, Germany. During the latter, they led a weeklong excursion to visit sites of the “Seven Churches of Asia” mentioned in the Bible’s Book of Revelation, and scattered throughout modern-day Turkey.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James Handy and Eula Handy Pruett; and a sister, Darlene Voss.

Among survivors are Royce, her husband of 59 years; daughters Alison and husband Nino Elliott of North Richland Hills, and Jennifer and husband Dr. Brad Crisp of Abilene; grandchildren David Elliott, Elizabeth and husband Carson Cheek, Andrew Elliott, Jon and wife Kendall Crisp, and Caleb Crisp; and great-grandchildren Carter Crisp and Cameron Crisp.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Pam Money Endowed Scholarship for Teacher Education (ACU Box 29132, Abilene, Texas 79699-9132 or bit.ly/PamMoney ).