Promoted to Glory: Major Sue Overton

Major Sue Overton was Promoted to Glory at the age of 74 from a hospice facility on August 7, 2023.

Mandy Sue Woodard was born on August 21, 1948 to Oren & Mandy Woodard in Corpus Christi, Texas. She had three brothers and two sisters.

After the family moved to Waco, Texas, Sue began attending The Salvation Army with her mother. She became very active in corps programs, played her alto horn in open-air meetings, was involved in youth meetings, and helped sell copies of The War Cry to help generate funds for the corps. She participated in corps programs wherever she was needed.

Sue Woodard felt called to Salvation Army officership for several years before entering the Evangeline Booth College in Atlanta in September 1968 as a member of the Undaunted session of cadets. Commissioned in 1970, she served in Wichita Falls, Texas before moving to the National Capital-Virginia Division as Guard & Sunbeam director.

On April 10, 1973, she married Walter (Tom) Overton. Following Tom's commissioning in June 1975, the couple served in Charleston, WV; and Arlington, VA. They were then sent to the Arkansas-Oklahoma Division where she served as Guard & Sunbeam director as well as Corps Cadet counselor.

Corps appointments followed in Corpus Christi, Texas; Clearwater, and West Palm Beach, FL; and as leaders of the Miami Area Command. From there, they were appointed to be administrators for Adult Rehabilitation Centers in Charlotte, NC; and, Tulsa, OK, from which she entered honored retirement after over 43 years of faithful service as a Salvation Army officer.

She is survived by her loving husband of more than 50 years, Major Tom Overton; one daughter, Jessica (Jeremy) Blackburn; one son, Christopher (Allison) Overton; and three grandchildren.

—Major Frank Duracher