Others Magazine

Commissioner Wilma Maxwell was promoted to glory on 5 October 2022, aged 89. Wilma entered her eternal reward, walking home with Jesus after faithfully serving in officership for 66 years, eight months and 23 days.

Wilma, the child of officer-parents, was born on 17 September 1933 in Coburg, Victoria. Prior to her entrance into officer training, Wilma graduated from The Salvation Army’s Bethesda Hospital as a qualified nurse. She then entered The Salvation Army Officer Training College in Sydney from her home corps in Camberwell (Vic.) as a cadet in the Soul Winners session. Following her commissioning on 12 January 1956, Wilma was appointed to the Hillcrest Hospital (NSW).

Wilma Cugley married Earle Maxwell in 1957, and they were appointed as corps officers at Dalby (Qld), followed by a succession of corps appointments culminating in a period of five years at Brisbane City Temple Corps.

After 20 years as corps officers, the Maxwells were transferred to territorial responsibilities in Sydney (Australia Eastern and Papua New Guinea Territory), where Commissioner Wilma was appointed Assistant to the Trade manager, serving officers and soldiers. In 1976, the Maxwells responded to appointments with divisional responsibilities – firstly, to the ACT and Southern NSW Division and subsequently, in 1978, in the South Queensland Division, based in Brisbane, where Commissioner Wilma was the Divisional Director of Women’s Organisations.

The first overseas appointment for Commissioners Wilma and Earle was received in 1979 when Commissioner Wilma was appointed as Command President of Women’s Organisations in the Singapore and Malaysia Command. Their family of four children remained in Australia.

After four years in Singapore and Malaysia, the Maxwells returned to the Australian Eastern Territory, where Commissioner Wilma was appointed Assistant Territorial Home League Secretary. This was only to be for a period of three years, as the call to overseas service came again in 1986 when the Maxwells were appointed territorial leaders for the Philippines. A similar territorial leadership assignment followed in the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory, commencing in 1990.

The final appointments that Commissioners Wilma and Earle fulfilled as active officers of The Salvation Army was situated in London, at the International Headquarters, in 1993. At that time, Commissioner Wilma was the World Secretary of Salvation Army Women’s Organisations and World President of Salvation Army Guards and Guides. Commissioner Earle was Chief of the Staff. These busy and fulfilling appointments were theirs until retirement from active service on 1 August 1999.

In retirement, the commissioners have responded to numerous invitations to share the Word of God, both in their home country and overseas, and this has enabled them to continue to fulfil a very meaningful ministry together.

Our love and prayers, along with our heartfelt sympathy, cover and surround Commissioner Earle, Commissioners Wayne and Robyn, Majors Judith and Mark Soeters, Major Colin and Jan, Colonels Phillip and Deslea, and all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

“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)