Good biography of Bahiyyih Khanum:

[arthra]

Bahíyyih Khánum Pronunciation: baw-hee-aw kaw-noom
(also Bahá'íyyih Khánum) The Greatest Holy Leaf, daughter of Bahá'u'lláh , sister of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Designated by Shoghi Effendi as 'the outstanding heroine of the Bahá'í Dispensation', she was born in 1846 in Tihrán. She accompanied Bahá'u'lláh on every stage of His exiles. When a young girl she decided to devote herself to the service of the Faith of her Father; therefore she never married. Following the passing of Bahá'u'lláh , she stood by her brother, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and assisted Him greatly at the time when the activities of the Covenant-breakers were at their height.

Perhaps her greatest hour of service was after the passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahá when Shoghi Effendi, overwhelmed by the responsibilities thrust upon him, decided to leave the affairs of the Cause in the hands of Bahíyyih Khánum while he retired to recuperate and contemplate the tasks ahead.
Of her character Shoghi Effendi has written: 'A purity of life reflected itself in even the minutest details of her daily occupations and activities; a tenderness of heart that obliterated every distinction of creed, class and colour; a resignation and serenity that evoked to the mind the calm and heroic fortitude of the Báb; a natural fondness of flowers and children that was so characteristic of Bahá'u'lláh ; an unaffected simplicity of manners; an extreme sociability which made her accessible to all; a generosity , a love, at once disinterested and undiscriminating, that reflected so clearly the attributes of 'Abdu'l-Bahá 's character; a sweetness of temper; a cheerfulness that no amount of sorrow could becloud; a quiet and unassuming disposition that served to enhance a thousandfold the prestige of her exulted rank; a forgiving nature that instantly disarmed the most unyielding enemy — these rank among the outstanding attributes of a saintly life which history will acknowledge as having been endowed with a celestial potency that few heroes of the past possessed.'


The Greatest Holy Leaf passed away on 15 July 1932 and is buried under a Shrine in the Monument Gardens on Mount Carmel.




http://bahai-library.com/books/bahiyyih.khanum/156a.jpg

[SMKolins]

keep in mind that she is the only woman to have been "in charge" for any length of time of any major religion.