Lillian Resler Keister Harford was an American church organizer, editor, and author. She was active worker in the Woman's Missionary Association of her church, the United Brethren in Christ, and delivered lectures for the Women's Missionary Society. In 1880, she was one of the two delegates sent by the Association to the World's Missionary Conference in London, UK. She became the longest-serving president of the Association.
Early years and education
Lillian A. Resler was born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1851. She was the first of seven children born to Rev. and Mrs. Jacob B. Resler. A brother was named John I.L. Ressler. Rev. Resler was minister of the UnitedBrethren in Christ church of that city. He, with only a small salary, moved to Westerville, Ohio, to give his children the benefit of Otterbein University, as soon as Keister was ready to enter, which was in 1866. She was graduated with the class of 1872.
Career
After completing her education, she became a school teacher. On August 19, 1875, at Westerville, she married Rev. George Keister, professor of Hebrew and Church History in United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio, from 1875. They had no children. The early death, in August 1880, of her husband opened the way to her broader usefulness in church work. The church of her choice, the United Brethren in Christ, organized the Woman's Missionary Association in 1875, of which she was corresponding secretary for the first year. The work of the society grew and, in 1881, it called for the full-time of one woman as its corresponding secretary and to establish and edit its organ, the Woman's Evangel. Keister was the available woman well-qualified for the responsible position. She was unanimously elected, holding the position in 1875-76 and 1881–1893. Besides the work on the paper, much of her time was spent giving public addresses. Keister traveled a lot. One year, she traveled in association work over in the United States. Twice, she went on short trips abroad, first in 1884, when the illness of her sister studying in Germany called her there, and again in 1888, when she was one of two delegates sent by the Woman's Missionary Association to the World's Missionary Conference in London.
Later years
On June 14, 1893, she married William P. Harford. Keister served as President of the Omaha Woman's Club, Omaha, Nebraska. Between 1905 and 1927, she was president of the Woman's Missionary Association. From 1927 till her death, she served as the Association's honorary president. In 1921, with Alice Estella Bell, she published History of the Women's Missionary Association of the United Brethren in Christ.
