Burrows, Eva (1929–)
Burrows, Eva (1929–)
Australian-born religious leader. Born Eva Evelyn Burrows, Sept 15, 1929, in an Australian mining town; dau. of Salvation Army officers; granted degrees in history and English and a graduate degree in education from Queensland University.
Joined the Salvation Army; spent 17 years at Howard Institute in Zimbabwe, as a teacher and administrator; also acted as an advisor to the Zimbabwe government on planning curriculums for African colleges; leaving Africa (1969), was an administrator at International College for Officers in London; served as leader of Women's Social Services in Great Britain and Ireland (1975); was a territorial commander in Sri Lanka, Scotland, and southern Australia (1977–85); appointed 13th general of the Salvation Army (1986), the 1st woman elected to that high office since Evangeline Booth in 1934; was also the youngest world-wide commander of the evangelical Christian group; during tenure, traveled extensively, commanding the Army's social-welfare operations in 86 countries and working to add to the organization's dwindling ranks; retired (1993).
See also Women in World History.