CELEBRATE COMMUNITY
TRIBUTES PETERBOROUGH, ONT.—Major Leonard Pearce Samson was born in Peterview, N.L., in 1950, the eldest of 13 children. At the age of 12, he met the love of his life, Fronie, and they were married in 1970. Commissioned in 1978 in the Disciples of Jesus Session, Pearce and Fronie served as corps officers in Long Island and Port aux Basques, N.L. Pearce’s appointment to the property department at territorial headquarters in Toronto in 1981 was followed by ministry in men’s social services in St. Catharines, Ont., and as executive director of Winnipeg’s Booth Centre. Returning to Toronto in 1998, he served as executive director of the Maxwell Meighen Centre, divisional secretary for program in the then Ontario Central Division and property secretary for the Canada and Bermuda Territory. Pearce retired in 2008 and devoted his time to his lifelong passion of carpentry. Launching Samson’s Carpentry, he built decks and fences, finished basements and produced many creative projects. Pearce made an impact wherever God led him, leaving a legacy of dedication, hard work and the love of Jesus for those who knew and worked with him. He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Fronie; children Tracy (James McLean), Carson (Donna Lee); grandchildren Justin, Caleb and Claire. TORONTO—Leah Eileen Shepherd was born in Windsor, Ont., in 1915, to William and Edith O’Connor. Promoted to glory at the age of 98, she was the beloved wife of the late Jack Shepherd from London, Ont. Leah and Jack were active Salvationists in Edmonton, Winnipeg and Toronto. With a heart for people where she lived, worked and worshipped, Leah taught Sunday school for over 40 years. She drove a car until the age of 89 and provided transportation to the corps for many who could not otherwise attend. Leah worked for the Anglican Church of Canada for 25 years and was loved and respected by the people with whom she worked. She considered it an honour and a privilege to be godmother to the daughter of her long-time boss, the Rev. Robert MacRae. Following her retirement in 1980, Leah became involved in women’s ministries and for the next 34 years spent much of her time doing needlework in support of overseas missions. Leah will be lovingly remembered by her son, Dr. Victor (Maureen); daughters Marjorie (John Snider), Elaine; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and her corps family at Agincourt Community Church in Toronto. TORONTO—Promoted to glory at the age of 100, Major Eva Cosby grew up in rural Ontario and was introduced to The Salvation Army when she entered nurses training at Toronto Grace Hospital. Eva accepted a position at Calgary Grace Hospital, became a Salvationist and was commissioned in the Liberty Session in 1944. Her appointment to Hong Kong in 1947 began 39 years of overseas service with the Army, which included appointments in Vietnam, Ghana and Pakistan. In Hong Kong, she learned to speak Cantonese, operated health clinics and worked in a girls’ home. During the Vietnamese conflict, Eva cared for civilian casualties in villages surrounding Saigon. Her ministry in Ghana and Pakistan focused on her travels to isolated villages to provide medical services to people in areas where there were no doctors or nurses. At the age of 70, Eva reluctantly concluded her final overseas term, returned home to Canada and began volunteering at Toronto’s Scarborough Grace Hospital to knit baby layettes for the hospital auxiliary. Eva’s international career as an officer and nurse was marked by her commitment to the people she was called to help and her gratitude to God for opportunities to serve. SARNIA, ONT.—Georgina Rogers (nee Avey) was born in London, Ont., in 1937. She was enrolled as a soldier of Sarnia Corps in 1993. From that day until her promotion to glory, Georgina was as active as her health concerns allowed. When placed in Marshall Gowland Manor, she was a member of the activity committee. Georgina was always sharing her faith with someone and will be missed by her daughters Brenda, Susan; son, Shaun; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
WIARTON, ONT.—Born in 1920 in Amherst, N.S., Cecil Goodwin began attending The Salvation Army in 1930 and was enrolled as a junior soldier. In 1932, he started collecting money for the Army and spent many hours going door to door in support of the Red Shield Appeal and Tag Days, and assisted with Christmas kettles or wherever needed, which he continued until recently before his promotion to glory. Cecil entered the training college in 1942 as a cadet in the Valiant Session. Commissioned in 1943 with his wife, Erma Goodwin (nee Baker), Cecil continued his service for the Lord in various corps for 15 years as an officer. He was a soldier at Toronto’s Long Branch Corps where he served as the corps sergeant-major for many years. Transferring to the corps in Wiarton, Ont., he played the piano for the Sunday morning meetings and shared his love for the Lord. Cecil spent 20 years working for Canada Post before retiring in 1985. He was a kind, gentle person who listened to other people intently and will be missed. Cecil will be lovingly remembered by his three children, Ralph, Lillian, Linda; their spouses; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and many friends whose lives he touched. TORONTO—Major Ida Dorothy Janes was born in 1931 in Saint John, N.B., to Salvationist parents and accepted Christ at a very young age. Actively involved in corps activities, Ida shared the message of God’s grace through Sunday school, community care ministries and home league, and brought spiritual blessing by using her musical gift as a vocal soloist. Committed to her faith and calling to full-time service, she entered the training college in 1951 in the Intercessors Session. Ida’s first appointment was as the corps officer in Pictou, N.S. In 1953, she married Lieutenant Carson Janes and together they had four children—Debra, Douglas, Kenneth and Sharon. During the following years, her faith and trust were evident through her corps ministry in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontario, her community service in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta through the public relations department, and her financial skills through the finance department at territorial headquarters in Toronto. Following retirement, Ida was active in seniors’ ministry, organizing groups in corps and the annual seniors’ rally at Jackson’s Point Conference Centre, Ont. Ida is survived and lovingly remembered by her husband of 61 years, Carson; children Debra, Kenneth, Sharon (Craig); six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. BLOOMFIELD, N.L.—Mildred Reader (nee Pretty) was born in Dildo, N.L., in 1925 to Frank and Emily Pretty. On April 9, 1944, she signed her Soldier’s Covenant and served faithfully until she was promoted to glory exactly 70 years to the day of her enrolment. Mildred taught school in Point Leamington, Bell Island, Triton, Twillingate, Lower Island Cove, Musgravetown and Corner Brook, N.L. She married William Reader in 1949 in Corner Brook. Following the birth of their twin daughters one year later, they moved to Bloomfield where they served in the Musgravetown Corps. Mildred was a member of the home league and attended the Army until her illness prevented her from doing so. She leaves to mourn with loving memories, her daughters Glenda Ralph (Rex), Gloria Skiffington (Edgar); son, Boyd Reader (Shirley); six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. WYOMING, ONT.—Robert Page was born in London, England, in 1937, the eldest of three children. Brought up in a Salvationist home, he spent a lot of time at the Army. Robert immigrated to Canada and later married Rene (nee Harding). For several years, Robert was a member of Port Huron Corps, Michigan, located across the U.S./Canada border from Sarnia, Ont., where he assumed leadership of the songsters. He transferred to Sarnia Corps in 1994 and took on the leadership of the young people’s and senior bands. Robert and Rene led services in seniors’ homes as well as the Super Seniors group at Sarnia Corps. An enthusiastic, dedicated soldier of the cross, Robert is dearly missed by his daughter, Wendy; stepson, Charles; grandchildren Justin, Tyler, Kaitlyn, Sarah; great-grandchild, Ayden; brother, Maurice (Jean); and sister, Jillian (Robert). Salvationist • December 2014 • 25