Majors James and Lois Allison enter retirement’s ‘happy land’
Majors James & Lois Allison (at center) receive their retirement certificate from friends Majors Chris & Sandy Flanagan.
Major Lillie Mae Woodard, Major James Allison's longtime mentor, gave the dedicatory prayer.
Majors James and Lois Allison enter retirement's ‘happy land'
By: Major Frank Duracher
Majors James and Lois Allison entered the "happy land" of honored retirement, during a celebration from the appropriate venue of Camp Happyland in the National Capital Division. The Majors Allison each complete over 43 years of active service as Salvation Army officers.
The program theme was "You Thought I Was Worth Saving," noting God's immense work in each of their lives from their upbringings in Gaffney, South Carolina, (James) and Moundsville, West Virginia (Lois).
Majors Chris and Sandy Flanagan presented the retirement certificate to the Allisons, with Major Lillie Mae Woodard offering a prayer of dedication. Flagbearers were Eric Weese (U.S. flag), Lt. Colonel Mark Bell (sessional flag) and James Wilson (Kroc Corps flag). The National Capital Band (Bandmaster Dr. Steve Kellner) was on duty throughout the service, featuring several selections arranged by Bandmaster James Anderson – a close friend of Major James Allison as well as something of a music legend in NCV. The Kroc Corps Praise Band provided worship music.
Other programs participants included: Major Donald Dohmann, Douglas Gilmore Jr., Major Stephanie Sills, Dr. Rebecca Adams, Lt. Colonel Alice Bell, Major Louise Feeser, Roy Snelson, Katrina Allison Wilson and Paula Allison Leister.
The Allisons were commissioned with the Companions of Christ Session in June 1977, with corps appointments in Charleston, South Carolina, and Winston-Salem (Central), North Carolina. Their first of many years in NCV came with corps appointments to Pulaski, Waynesboro and Charlottesville, Virginia.
They served in Florida, Alabama-Louisiana-Mississippi and North-South Carolina divisions before returning to NCV with significant leadership positions as divisional and general secretary and divisional women's ministries secretary. In 2012, Majors Allison returned to one of their first appointments – Winston-Salem, as area commanders. Their final field post was to Hampton Roads Area Command, Virginia. They retire as MWV divisional secretary and divisional secretary for program, aiding the coming consolidation in October 2020 of MWV and NCV to form the Potomac Division.
Their home in retirement, effective Sept. 1, 2020, is 120 Sycamore Drive, Lancaster, SC, 29720.