Others Magazine

Major Elma Corfield, having served just short of 75 years as a Salvation Army officer, was peacefully promoted to glory on Tuesday 27 December 2022, aged 95. Her son Michael, grandson Chris, and nephew Ian were at her side.

Elma Annie Harrison was born on 2 June 1927 in Wangaratta, Victoria. In 1947, she entered Officer Training College in Melbourne as a cadet in The Warriors session from her home corps of Wangaratta.

Following her commissioning on 12 January 1948, Lieutenant Elma served as an assistant officer at three corps – Burnley (1948), Balaclava (1950) and Little Bourke Street (1950). Elma was then appointed to the Field Department at Territorial Headquarters (1951-52). She became engaged to Lieutenant Brian Corfield on 8 January 1952 and married on 31 January 1953. Brian and Elma were blessed with two children – Michael and Priscilla.

Elma and Brian served corps and communities in the Australian Southern Territory from 1953 to 1968. These were Golden Square (in Bendigo), Thornbury East, Morwell, Springvale, Stawell, Ballarat Central, Oakleigh, Bentleigh and Subiaco (WA).

In January 1970, Brian and Elma were transferred to Singapore, where they served in the Public Relations Department before returning to Australia in December 1975. In the years before their retirement on 1 February 1995, Brian and Elma worked predominantly in The Salvation Army’s social work sector. They served as probation officers in 1976 and additionally in Civil Defence and Emergency Service. In 1977, they served in the Prayer Covenanters League and, in 1978, in Migration, Travel and Refugees. They were prison chaplains in Victoria in 1984, as well as chaplains for the Anchorage Community Services Industries in 1991, and as Deferred Giving Representatives and Secretaries in the office of Deferred Giving, THQ (1991).

In their retirement years, Elma and Brian continued to enjoy ministry and fellowship together in The Salvation Army until Brian’s promotion to glory on 8 July 2005.

Elma was a competent pianist. After relocating to Hayville Retirement Village in Box Hill, she extended her musical interests to become a keen classical music concertgoer. Those around the village knew her to be kind, helpful and friendly.

Our love and prayers, along with our heartfelt sympathy, cover and surround Elma’s immediate and extended family and all those who were close to her.

“Her master said to her, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.
You have been faithful ... Enter into the joy of your master”
(Matthew 25:23)