Promoted to Glory: Major Mary Dell Tolcher
Major Mary Dell Tolcher was Promoted to Glory on May 21, 2026, from the Midtowne Assisted Living apartments in Midlothian, TX. She was 79.
Mary Dell Parker was born on October 12, 1946, in Itta Bena, MS to parents Melvin and Laverne Parker. She was raised by her loving maternal grandparents, Charles and Mary Harbin, in her hometown of Greenwood, MS.
She was saved at the age of 12, and a few years later felt the call to be a Salvation Army officer in 1961 at a Youth Councils. She entered the Evangeline Booth College in 1965 as a member of the Witnesses to the Faith session of cadets. Upon her ordination and commissioning on June 3, 1967, the lieutenant was sent to her first appointment as the assistant officer at the Gainesville Corps in the Georgia Division. In August 1967 she was transferred to Georgia Divisional Headquarters staff pending her wedding to Lieutenant Roy Tolcher later that month, after which she joined her husband as assistant corps officer in Huntington, WV.
Their first corps officer post came with the January 1968 moves, when they were sent to Pascagoula, MS. A number of corps appointments followed: Chattanooga Citadel, TN; Gainesville, FL; and Miami Editon, FL. The bulk of their remaining career landed them in the Arkansas-Oklahoma and Texas Divisions: Clinton; Springdale Outpost; West Tulsa; Noth Little Rock; Ada; Ardmore; Camp Hoblitzelle (camp managers); Houston Area Command (special work); Bryan College Station Outpost; Arlington; Big Spring; McKinney Service Center (directors); Lewisville Service Center (directors); Killeen; and Fort Worth Lancaster Avenue.
Majors Roy and Mary Dell Tolcher retired honorably on August 1, 2010.
Major Mary Dell Tolcher is preceded in death by her son, Jonathan Tolcher. She is survived by her husband of almost 59 years, Major Roy Tolcher, and a daughter, Betty Jean (Jeff) Gann. She also leaves her daughter-in-law, Heather Tolcher; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a special cousin, Shirley Ann.
A Celebration of Life service will take place on May 27, 2026, at the Midlothian Funeral Home.