Dukes estate leaves generous gift to Texas Baptists ministries

The Baptist General Convention of Texas has received a generous gift of more than $28 million from the estate of William (Bill) P. and Janie B. Dukes. Bill passed away in 2015 and Janie passed away in June 2022. The couple were lifelong Baptists.

The Dukes first became involved in Baptist philanthropy in 1990, when they met Bill Arnold, president emeritus of the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation. With Arnold’s help, they began planning how they would use their resources to best benefit the Kingdom of God. It was important to the couple that they impacted all phases of Baptist life.

“They wanted to help all ages and all phases of Baptist life,” Arnold said. “They wanted to help children, students, ministers, lost people and everyone in between.”

The William P. and Janie B. Dukes Endowment Fund will go toward starting new churches, providing scholarships to students pursuing ministry in the business school at Baylor University, assisting senior adults in Texas Baptists retirement centers and other ministerial causes. The gift was processed through HighGround Advisors.

“They were humble people with a generous spirit,” said Ward Hayes, CFO/Treasurer of Texas Baptists. “And now, they’ll be able to help grow the Kingdom for many, many years to come.”