Major Shirley Pond

Major Shirley Pond
July 13th 1927 – November 7th 2011
Shirley Millicent Eileen Anthony was born in Pilley’s Island Notre Dame Bay Newfoundland to Christian parents Dorman and Martha Anthony. Her father was a fisherman and owned a lumber mill. Her mother was a hard working homemaker.

These godly parents were a key influence on Shirley, her sister Ivy and brothers Reginald, Wilbur, Frank and Roy. The Anthony family attended The Salvation Army Pilley’s Island corps. At one point in time Commissioner and Mrs. Arthur Pitcher were the Corps Officers.

Shirley accepted Christ into her life at an early age and it was evident soon after that God was calling her to be a Salvation Army officer. After elementary and secondary education she entered The Salvation Army Newfoundland Training College in 1948 as a member of The Peacemaker’s session. As a single, commissioned officer various corps and teaching appointments in Newfoundland were held.

She met Lieutenant Ray Pond as the 1950’s began and on September 18th 1951 they were married in Corner Brook Newfoundland. Son’s David (1952) and Keith (1955) followed. Later in life, Shirley became a hands on parental role model for grandson Robert (1978) in his early years.

Ray and Shirley worked together as equals not only in the home setting but in many corps appointments across Canada for 25 years. These included Fortune, Glovertown, St. John’s (Duckworth Street), Bay Roberts, Windsor in Newfoundland, Glace Bay in Nova Scotia and Mount Dennis (York Temple), Edmonton Temple, and Ottawa Woodroffe Temple.

In 1973 appointments in Public Relations began for Ray and Shirley taking them to Montreal, Halifax, THQ, and Hamilton. When Ray was appointed Director of Overseas Development for The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda, Shirley worked faithfully at Territorial Headquarters. They retired from active service in 1984.

Shirley was an encourager, a gifted preacher and was passionate about women’s ministries. She loved music, reading, the culinary arts, and believed learning was a lifelong journey.
At the age of 52 she received her Ontario Secondary School Graduation Diploma.

Unconditionally she loved others, her family, and was genuinely concerned for the world around her. She will be greatly missed and forever cherished by her husband of 60 years, Ray, sons David and Keith(Cherry), grandchildren Robert(Tina),Melanie, Nathan, great-grandson Joshua, brothers Frank and Roy and many nieces and nephews.

We rejoice and celebrate that Shirley is now in the presence of her Saviour and that The Peacemaker is now at Peace.