Promoted to Glory: Major Chiffonia Woody Smith

Major Chiffonia Smith was Promoted To Glory on October 21, 2023, at the age of 59.

Chiffonia Gayle Woody was born on May 2, 1964, in Logan, WV, to parents James and Helen Woody. She started attending the Logan Corps as a child, and by age 12 she knew she wanted to someday become a Salvation Army officer.

She entered the Evangeline Booth College in 1982 as a member of the Proclaimers of the Gospel session of cadets. Upon commissioning in June 1984, Lieutenant Chiffonia Woody was appointed to the Durham Corps in North Carolina. During her training experience, she met Cadet Mark Smith. They were married on January 17, 1987, in Alexandria, VA.

Following their wedding, the couple went on to serve in Columbia, SC, and later as corps officers in Kenner and New Orleans, LA; Florence and Bessemer, AL; Columbus, MS; Decatur, Anniston, and Tuscaloosa, AL; and, Shreveport, LA.

Her first staff appointment was to the North & South Carolina Division, where Chiffonia served in the Women's Department. From there, they went to the Maryland-West Virginia Division, where Major Chiffonia served in a dual appointment: Older Adult Ministries Secretary and Candidates Secretary. The latter was a position she truly loved and remained proud of the work she did to send candidates to the training college.

Returning to the field, the Majors Smith were Area Commanders in Chattanooga, TN; followed by a corps appointment to Huntsville, AL—from which they retired on October 1, 2023, devoting over 37 years of service as a Salvation Army officer.

Major Chiffonia used her creative skills to serve as divisional timbrel leader for many years. Because of her artistic ability, she was called on repeatedly to provide decorations for many divisional events. She served on multiple divisional advisory and planning committees. She was at her happiest when working with young people.

Her life verse was Matthew 22:37, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."

Major Chiffonia Smith is survived by her husband of over 36 years, Major Mark Smith; two children, daughter Kathleen (Kat) Smith, and son, Christian (Macaira) Smith; as well as three grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, November 11, 2023, at the corps in Huntsville, Alabama.