Born August 30, 1917, at Lusambo, Belgian Congo, pioneer mission station of the American Presbyterian Congo Mission (APCM), Winifred Kellersberger was given the Luba name of “Misenga”, meaning “sands”. As one of the first “white” babies born in the area, she reminded the people of white river sands. Winifred was the daughter of Dr. Eugene Roland Kellersberger of Cypress Mill, TX, and Edna Bosché Kellersberger of Austin, Texas. Dr. Kellersberger was a medical missionary specializing in leprosy and sleeping sickness. Educated at her Bibanga mission station home through high school, Winifred frequently helped out her father at the Edna Kellersberger Memorial Hospital, named after her mother, who died when she was six.
Winifred, called “Winnie”, graduated from Agnes Scott College in 1936. In 1940, Winnie married the Rev. Lachlan Cumming Vass III, whose father, Lachlan C. Vass II, was a pioneer Presbyterian missionary in the Congo Free State, 1898-1909. The Vasses served with the APCM from 1940-70. Winnie worked primarily with literature development, including school and Sunday school materials, Bible lessons, and editing of periodicals in the Tshiluba language. She also lent her musical gifts to the translation of hymns and her linguistic skills to co-authoring a textbook of the Tshiluba language.
In 1971, Winnie graduated from the University of Florida with an MA in Journalism and Communications. Her master’s thesis, “The Bantu-Speaking Heritage of the United States”, grew out of her years-long fascination with Bantu language carry-overs into American speech. Her thesis was the basis for two books, The Bantu-Speaking Heritage of the United States (UCLA) and The African Heritage of American English (Indiana University Press).
After 30 years in the mission field, the Vasses moved to Dallas, Texas, in 1971, where Lach served as Assistant Business Manager at Highland Park Presbyterian Church, and Winnie shared her gifts as a Bible teacher and speaker. In 1975, Winnie published 31 Banana Leaves, a book of meditations based on her missionary experiences. She pursued the dream of writing her father’s biography, and in 1986, Dr. Not Afraid was published. Thereafter, she and her husband co-authored The Lapsley Saga, the story of the Congo mission paddlewheel steamer built and captained by Lach’s father.
In 1982, the Vasses moved to Presbyterian Village North (PVN), Dallas, where she continued to use her literary skills as one of the first editors of the PVN newsletter, Village Bugle. Winnie rose to new life on October 27, 2010. The family is grateful to PVN staff for their loving ministry to Winnie in her final years. “Butumbi buebe, O Mubuishibue!”
Winnie was preceded in death by a daughter, Sophie Fontaine, her sister, Cornelia, and her husband. She is survived by four daughters: Edna (John) Stucky, Moundridge, KS; Julia Lake (William) Dudley, Signal Mountain, TN; Elizabeth (Reggie) Wilkerson, Laurens, SC; and Winifred (Todd) Rutenbar, Richardson, TX; nine grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, and devoted nieces and nephews.
Her service of Resurrection will be celebrated Saturday, October 30, 10 AM, in the sanctuary of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, 3821 University Blvd., Dallas, TX 75205. Memorial gifts may be sent to the American Leprosy Mission, 1 ALM Way, Greenville, SC 29601, or to the literature program of the Congo Presbyterian Church in care of: Highland Park Presbyterian Church/Memo: IMPROKA.
