Maud Ballington Booth

Born in Limpsfield, Surrey, England, in 1865, she grew up in a family shaped by church work and social concern. She joined the Salvation Army as a young woman and later married Ballington Booth, becoming an important leader in the movement's work in the United States.

After leaving the Salvation Army with her husband, she co-founded Volunteers of America in 1896. The organization blended Christian mission with hands-on service, and she became one of its most recognizable public figures through her preaching, writing, and reform work.

She is especially remembered for her advocacy for prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, earning affectionate recognition as a champion for people who had been forgotten or condemned. She died in 1948 in Great Neck, New York, leaving a legacy of faith-driven service and reform.