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A deep inner peace confirmed my calling
I was born in the rural farming community of Apex, North Carolina, the youngest of seven children. Upon my father’ s death, my mother became a single parent with five daughters still at home. That life crisis placed our family in a vulnerable economic situation.
I began working on the farm of a family member at a very young age. Although the work was hard, I thrived on the activities that surrounded farm life. Gardening, cooking, canning vegetables, preserving fruits, caring for animals and barning tobacco were things that brought me great pleasure. I also thrived on the bond of love that develops when families work closely and are united in purpose – unfortunately, our purpose was surviving poverty.
My oldest sister was living in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, when her children were invited to The Salvation Army by some neighborhood friends during a Sunday school campaign. Upon visiting, they made The Salvation Army their church
Major Marshall Clary
Major Marshall Clary was promoted to Glory March 27, 2016, from his home. The funeral was held April 2 at the Gastonia, North Carolina, Corps. Lt. Colonel Donald Faulkner presided and Lt. Colonel Jack T. Waters brought the message. The burial was at Westview Gardens in Bessemer City, North Carolina.
Marshall Blake Clary was born Aug. 27, 1931, in Gaston County, North Carolina, to J. B. and Tiny Clary Head. Marshall and Barbara Clary were high school sweethearts and were married July 1, 1950. They later entered officer training in Atlanta, were commissioned June 4, 1956, with the Sword Bearers and appointed to Moundsville, West Virginia. They also served in Morgantown, West Virginia, and Baltimore, Maryland. In 1964 they were appointed to the Public Relations and Welfare program in the Atlanta, Georgia, City Command.
Later appointments took them to Virginia, where they served as corps officers in Alexandria, Roanoke and Norfolk. Major Marshall Clary was appointed as Georgia divisional secretary in 1981. In subsequent years, they served as city and area commanders in Charleston, West Virginia, Tampa, Florida, and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Marshall was a graduate of the International College for Officers and the Brengle Institute. He served as a Protestant chaplain for the West Virginia Penitentiary and was a licensed social worker. In post-retirement, he served the Gastonia command as the capital campaign officer mycalling
Major Susie Erickson home and brought many of our family members to The Salvation Army in the proceeding months.
I must confess that I went to The Salvation Army in my late teen years“ kicking and screaming.” We lived among hard-working farm families who lived off the land and were too proud for charity, so my visit to The Salvation Army was my first encounter with homelessness and severe poverty. I determined during the first visit that I would not return to The Salvation Army, but my mother thought differently!
Months later, a white-haired lady named Brigadier Dorothy Langston approached me and said,“ You would make a great Salvation Army officer because you love people.” I knew so little about The Salvation Army that I promotedtoglory
and was very instrumental in raising the funds needed to erect the Center of Hope, corps community center, teen center and Catherine Booth Garden Apartments.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Barbara; daughters Suzanne( Mike) Stearn and Sandra( Jim) Burns; and sons Marshall( Wanda) Clary, Jr., and Mike( Belinda) Clary; sister Edith Clary Reagan; and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Captain Kathleen Darr
Mrs. Captain Kathleen Darr of Hot Springs, Arkansas, was promoted to Glory March 29, 2016. The funeral service was held April 1 at Caruth- Hale Funeral Home in Hot Springs with Major Jonathan McBride officiating. The burial was at Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Kathleen Virginia Darr was born April 15, 1922, in Fulks Run, Virginia, to Seymour and Rebecca Shumaker. She started her officership in Texarkana, Texas, Jan. 10, 1968, as an auxiliary captain. She served in several corps appointments and at the adult rehabilitation center in Washington, D. C. She served as an active officer in the Southern Territory for over 15 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Darr, and is survived by daughters Linda Lee Garner, Deborah Diane Elwell and Kathleen Tusing; sister Wilta Tusing; and four grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren. wondered what this dear woman could have possibly done to cause her mother to name her brigadier!
As I grew in my relationship with the Lord, I too came to love The Salvation Army and its mission and knew that God was indeed calling me to be an officer in The Salvation Army. How did I know? My calling was confirmed by an inner peace as I actively engaged in the mission and ministry of The Salvation Army.
I helped my family barn a field of tobacco prior to my departure for training and had to soak my hands in bleach to remove the tobacco stains. I was a farm girl with no real knowledge of The Salvation Army when God called me to be an officer. Thirty years later, I still stand amazed!
By Laura Poff SOUTHERN SPIRIT STAFF
Christian recording artist Lara Landon first found her local corps through an internet search for churches in her area. She started attending the Berry Street Corps in Nashville six years ago and has been a regular attendee ever since, even leading worship when she isn’ t out of town on tour.
“ I’ ve never felt pressure to stay,” she said of her experience there.“ I also feel like I’ m needed and can use my talents there.”
Landon was recently selected by the territorial Women’ s Department to lead worship at the We Will Conference in September. She said she was excited about the opportunity to attend a conference targeting young women.“ I get excited about strengthening and empowering
April 29, 2016
Christian recording artist Lara Landon will be a worship leader at September’ s We Will conference.
Landon encourages young women to be force for world change
young women especially,” she said.“ If we’ re strong and we are on track and listening to God, we can be a really powerful force for change in this world.”
She hopes that this gathering will be an encouragement to other women in ministry.
“ When we come together and share stories, we realize that we are not alone in our struggles. We can share knowledge and wisdom and build friendships with likeminded people.”
Her goal in leading worship is to provide a space for attendees to connect with God and feel his presence as they gather together for a weekend where they will be challenged and empowered.
“ I’ m really looking forward to seeing what God has to show me about being a young woman who is a leader.”