Ethna Archibald

Ethna Stewart Archibald (1918 - October 17, 2003) was a New Zealand Baháʼí who pioneered to Zambia and American Samoa, and later served at the World Centre.

Background

Ethna was introduced to the Baháʼí Faith in May 1947 when she met a Baháʼí on a train journey in Australia, and she declared in Auckland in 1948. She was elected to the Local Spiritual Assembly of Auckland in 1950, serving on the body until 1952 when she moved to London.

In January 1955 Ethna went on pilgrimage, and Shoghi Effendi encouraged her to pioneer to Africa. In October 1955 she departed London, with Ian Semple seeing her off at the airport, and pioneered to Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia, settling in Lusaka. In 1964 she was elected to the first National Spiritual Assembly of South Central Africa, which administrated the Faith in Zambia. She married Phillip Daka in 1966, however they divorced in 1981.

In 1973 Ethna departed Zambia, and she moved to American Samoa where she served as secretary to the Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia. She later moved to the Holy Land where she served as secretary for Alí Nakhjavání.

She passed away in New Plymouth in New Zealand in 2003. The Universal House of Justice conveyed the following message after her passing:

"Ethna will long be remembered for her total commitment to the Cause, her warm and loving spirit, her positive outlook, and her kindness to all with whom she came in contact."