Vivian F Childs

On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, Major Vivian F. Childs, retired and was promoted to glory while being hospitalized at Advent Health Hospital in Orlando, Florida. Major Vivian was born February 12, 1948 in Quincy, Ill. Vivian was the eldest daughter of John and Jean Taylor. In 1968, she entered the College for Officer Training in Chicago, Ill, as a member of the Undaunted Session. After completing her training, Major Vivian was appointed to St. Louis, MO and then to Omaha, NE. In 1976, she came to know a young man from the south, the then Cadet Otis Childs. They fell in love and in May of 1978 they were married in Nashville, TN. They served together as Corps Officers in Nashville, TN, Washington, DC, Petersburg, VA, Portsmouth, VA, Melbourne, FL, Ocala, FL, and Panama City, FL. They also served in staff appointments at The College for Officer Training and The Southern Territorial Headquarters in Atlanta, GA.

She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Major Otis Childs, son Jeremy Childs, and daughter Candace (Nicholas) Lewis. Sister Sue Gaines and brother Charles (Joyce) Taylor, four grandchildren, Leya Childs, Victoria Lewis, Olivia Lewis and Xavier Lewis, and a host of Nieces, Nephews and Cousins.

She was preceded in death by her father John Taylor (1959), daughter Jessica Childs (1980), brother John Taylor (2001), mother Jean Taylor (2005), sister Alicia Johnson (2020) and brother Clarence Jackson (2021). Major Vivian retired from active service as a Salvation Army Officer in July of 2019, with the distinction of being one of only two officers at that time in the Southern Territory who served for 50 years. As a part of her ministerial training, Major Vivian was a student of Sociology and Human Relations. This was quite befitting for her because she loved people.