When Michele Dudley’s mother, Theresa, passed away, all she knew was that her mother had wanted to leave a financial gift to The Salvation Army, where she had been a devoted volunteer. Though Michele only knew an inkling of the truth, her family has quite the history with the Army. Since her mother’s passing, Michele has been on a journey of discovery that’s uncovered a legacy of dedicated soldiership and faith.

Theresa Donahue was French Canadian and grew up in a poor immigrant family in Waterbury, CT. Her father died when she was only two years old and she was raised by her mother who had extended family in the Waterbury area to help. Theresa moved to Boston in her 20s, where she connected with The Salvation Army. She started volunteering to ring the bell in Belmont Center and then began to organize the bell ringers during the holidays throughout Belmont, mostly engaging students from Belmont High School, and continued to do so for many years. 

In 2009, Theresa and Michele traveled together to Rwanda, where Theresa befriended a young man, Bosco, who later married and had a blind daughter. Bosco started a school for the blind and visually impaired, which Theresa became passionate about. From then on, she did everything she could to support the school. Even though she never saw the school in person, she and Michele would have regular video calls with Bosco, and she was always in tears by the end as she was so grateful to be part of supporting the school and its students. 

Theresa’s greatest passion, however, was for her children and her grandchildren for whom she was an active caregiver until she was no longer able. “We are blessed that despite advanced dementia, she never forgot her children or her grandchildren and would light up when any of us came for a visit,” said Michele. “Despite her decline, she retained her sweet and caring personality, even caring for a baby doll that became real to her until just days before her death. We suggested donations be made in her memory to The Salvation Army in Boston for her funeral.” 

Michele was aware of a connection to The Salvation Army on her paternal side as well, but she didn’t realize how extensive it was until she reached out to the Army after her mother’s passing. Together with her father, Michele found a clipping about her great grandfather in her paternal grandmother’s Bible when visiting her in a retirement home some 30 years ago. She later had the clipping framed for her dad. It read: 

Below is the thrilling personal testimony of the late Commandant, J.H. Abrams, written in 1927, three years before his promotion to glory and discovered by Mrs. Abrams among some old papers:

“Thirty years ago I suffered the loss of all that is dear to one in life in exchange for Christ. Now I am looking back to see if I have made a mistake in my choice or a failure of my life. It is true, that I could have had an easier life, but not a better one. I might have made more money, but I could not have been richer because my treasures are all laid up in Heaven where neither rust can corrode nor thieves break in and steal. When Heaven and earth have passed away, my treasures will still remain.”

Beyond this clipping, Michele and her family knew very little about her great grandfather, Commandant Julius H. Abrams. When reaching out to inform the Army of her mother’s legacy gift, Michele asked if there was any information about Commandant Abrams. Susan Mitchem of The Salvation Army National Headquarters’ Archives went to work and uncovered Abrams’ service record and a photo of his wife Charlotte Abrams. Since sharing this with Michele Dudley, Susan has found a whole lot more.

Commandant Abrams, a Jewish immigrant to the USA, even wrote a book: “Out of the House of Judah: A Story of Conversion to Christianity” published in 1923. Charlotte and Julius’ son, Gus Blair Abrams, and his wife Ethel Holz also went on to serve in The Salvation Army as officers. Gus Blair Abrams even served on Evangeline Booth’s staff. Mitchem has gone on to discover and send to Michele details of her grandparents’ and great grandparents’ service histories, photos, obituaries, and writings and published works. 

“It’s been a gift from God to our family to discover the history behind the clipping we found in my grandmother’s Bible so many years ago,” said Michele. “We’re grateful to The Salvation Army for the transformative work they do in communities in the US and around the world, and it’s deeply meaningful to be connected to this work through our financial gifts and volunteerism in addition to our family history.”

Images courtesy of National Archives