Lillian McLeod, 96, poses with a photo of herself at 16-year-old when she became a senior member of the local Salvation Army church. On Sunday, McLeod was honoured for 80 years of service.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
Ever since she was born, 96-year-old Lillian McLeod has been a dedicated member of the Salvation Army and its church in Medicine Hat.
“I was born right in the church. I’ve been there ever since I was born,” explained McLeod.
McLeod was honoured this past Sunday by Salvation Army for 80 years of service as a solider and 96 as a member of the church.
McLeod’s grandmother was an officer with the Salvation Army in England shortly after the church originated in 1865 to assist crowds of poor and disadvantaged people outside a pub in London.
As a child McLeod attended the Salvation Army’s Citadel Corps with her family. The Citadel was built in 1906 on the southwest corner of Montreal Street and S. Railway after serving the community since 1899 in tents at various locations throughout the city.
From early childhood McLeod was taught to help others and give back to those in the community who were down and out.
“Helping the needy is what it was,” said McLeod. “Actually, we were one of the needy, too. At that time we were very poor, but everybody in those days where poor.”
McLeod explains her church had a congregation of roughly 80 people back in the 1930s, up to the ’80s, and they would make hampers for people in the community who were struggling as well as provide clothing and help them find a place to stay. Her church would also invite those individuals to join their service and invite them for coffee and snacks afterward.
McLeod recalls the community coming to help each other out and says her father, who raised chickens and worked on the railway, would offer a chicken to the church minister every week.
“We spent so much time there my dad used to tell us, why don’t we take our bed and live there,” joked McLeod.
As an active member of her church McLeod says her days were busy with street services, women’s groups, children services and prayer meetings, and she was even part of the marching band.
“We had a marching band. We used to have street services downtown in front of one of the cafes on Saturday and Sunday night,” explained McLeod. “And then from there, we would march back to the church and have our service.”
When she turned 16 McLeod became a member of the senior church and a solider with the Salvation Army. Over her 80 years serving with the senior church, McLeod has seen first hand how the nonprofit is able to provide life-changing support for individuals dealing with addition and alcoholism.
“They would come and listen maybe two or three Sundays, and all of a sudden knew they had been (living) in sin and would come and repent and some of them even joined the church.”
In 1986 the Salvation Army Church moved out of the downtown core to its present location in South Ridge. Before the move McLeod served as the church;s board treasurer. Later on she would look after the children of band members who used to play outside the hospital every Sunday morning. For years McLeod has also been an active member of the church’s Sunday school.
Last Sunday, around 80 members of her church along with several family members and friends held a tea for McLeod to honour her 80 years with the senior church.
“My son read a reading about me and sang a couple of my favourite hymns,” said McLeod. “Then my family provided lunch for all my friends that have come and all the church members that were there.”
Her family also put together a scrapbook full of photos and certificates she has received over the years during her time with the church.
Over 96 years McLeod has built a reputation in church. She still attends regularly and is known as the matriarch of the church.
“She has gone through and seen so much in life,” said Randy Russell, McLeod’s friend and member of the congregation. “For what she’s done and helped as much as she could … times are getting a litter older, she has just given it her all.”
“She’s a wonderful lovey lady who loves licorice ice cream,” Russell said, making McLeod laugh.
The News asked McLeod what the key was to her happiness and if she has any advice to pass along.
“I think to keep serving God and try to be friendly to everybody and helping out as long as (you) can and being friends to everybody,” says McLeod.
The 96-year old is a proud great grandmother of nine, grandmother of 13 and mother of four.
