Celebrating the life of....Carolyn V. Johnson
Public Visitation: Friday, July 24, 2020
1-6 pm
S.E. Thomas Funeral & Cremation Services
Graveside Service: Saturday, July 25, 2020
11:00 am
Lakeview Memorial Park Cemetery
3600 N. Ohenry Blvd
Greensboro, NC 27504
Life and Legacy of Elder Carolyn Virginia Goode Johnson
Elder Carolyn Virginia Goode Johnson was born on March 7, 1947 in Ponce de Leon, Florida to the late Rev. Haywood and Mother Henrietta Stonom Goode.
She grew up in Panama City, Florida after her family relocated in 1950. Elder Johnson received her early education at Glenwood Elementary and Rosenwald High School. In school, she participated in the Glee Club, recitals, and was a star performer in many plays. She furthered her education by attending business school in Atlanta, Georgia, completing several vocational courses at Guilford Technical Community College in Greensboro, North Carolina, and obtaining an Associate Degree in Theology in 2006 at Spirit of Faith Bible Institute in Temple Hills, Maryland.
Elder Johnson’s journey for the Lord’s service began when she dedicated her life to the Lord at the age of 11 years old. She was baptized at Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Panama City, FL by the late Reverend W. M. Sutton, Pastor. She was happy her father was able to assist. She received her foundational Christian training by working in various departments of the church, including the Youth Choir, Sunday School, and Baptist Youth People’s Union (BYPU). Even at an early age, the anointing was upon her as she was guest speaker at various services and conventions in the area.
In 1972, Elder Johnson was filled with the Holy Ghost while a member of Miracle Faith Church in Atlanta, Georgia under Apostle Milton Perry, Pastor. There, she worked with the Crusaders (the street ministry team), the choir, and the Prayer Warriors. She was called into the ministry in 1978.
In 1984, she was baptized in the name of Jesus by Bishop Joseph Price, Temple of Deliverance Church, in Atlanta, GA. During her tenure there, she worked in the mailroom corresponding to mail and served in the Congregational Care Department. In 1985, she joined Hargis Street Church of God in Christ in Atlanta, in the Central Georgia Jurisdiction under the late Presiding Prelate Bishop John D. Husband. She was a devoted and faithful member and served as head of the Evangelistic Department, volunteered as a Sunday School teacher, and organized the Gospel Choir and the Street Ministry. She also worked in various capacities in the Central Georgia Jurisdiction Women’s Department, as secretary of the Hulda Club, a member of the Hospitality Ministry, and served on the Women’s Department Evangelistic Board. under the jurisdictional supervisor, Mother Gwendolyn I. Howard.
Being obedient to God’s guidance, she relocated to Greensboro, North Carolina in 1987 and became a member of Rescue Temple Church of God in Christ. There she served as president of the Prayer Band, Praise & Worship leader, and a member of the Finance Committee for the Stanford District under Elder Charles McMurry, District Superintendent. She also served in any capacity Pastor McMurry and the late District Missionary, Mother Mabel Smith saw the need to place her. Continuing her Christian journey for God’s service, on June 26, 1987, Elder Johnson was ordained as a Minister for Christ by Overseer, Rev. David Rozier, Pastor of Fellowship Church in Panama City, Florida and Dr. Rufus Wood, Jr., Pastor of Love Center Baptist Church, in Panama City. Reaching towards higher heights, on June 19, 1998, Elder Johnson was appointed Pastor of the Fellowship of Faith Church in Greensboro, North Carolina, by Bishop Leroy J. Woolard, Jurisdictional Prelate, Greater North Carolina Jurisdiction, Church of God in Christ. With this appointment, she became the first woman to receive a pastoral appointment in the history of the Jurisdiction. In 1999, Elder Johnson organized New Beginnings C.O.G.I.C. in Albemarle, North Carolina in the Second Jurisdiction of North Carolina, under Bishop C.E. Anderson Presiding Prelate. During this time, she also served on the Licensing Board for Women as an Examiner.
In February 2001, Elder Johnson relocated with her husband to Alexandria, Virginia and continuing her desire to fellowship and serve God, she joined the Antioch Church of Christ Bibleway Worldwide, in Alexandria, under the late Bishop Henry W. Roberts. During her tenure there, she served as Supervisor of the Youth Department and Treasurer of the Ministers and Elders Committee. On July 7, 2001, she was ordained as an Elder of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by Presiding Bishop Lawrence George Campbell, Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ World Wide, Inc.
After relocating back to Greensboro in 2006, she joined Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, in Thomasville, North Carolina, under the leadership of her father, the late Rev. Dr. Haywood N. Goode, Sr. She worked faithfully in the ministry, serving as an associate minister, president of the Women’s Fellowship Committee, and vice president of the Marriage Ministry. In 2018, she returned to Rescue Temple in Greensboro and faithfully worshiped until her health failed.
For over 30 years, Elder Johnson lived by and obeyed her Savior’s command to go and teach the nations. With her motto being “Have Bible - Will Travel,” she traveled near and far, preaching the Word of God, rendering revivals, and informing everyone she met about the goodness of the Lord and offering to pray for them. She established spiritual relationships in North, South, East and West regions of the United States. Yet she had a fear of flying and sailing.
Elder Johnson was a determined and dedicated hard worker, having been employed as a security guard at Owens and Illinois, Atlanta, GA, office manager for AAMCO Transmissions, Greensboro, NC, accounting clerk for Stein Mart, Greensboro, NC, a private duty Certified Nursing Assistant, owner of a residential cleaning company, and Mary Kay beauty consultant.
“Sister Mac” as she was affectionately called by her family, loved the Lord, her family, and friends. Although she endured many disabling health issues, she remained a faithful servant and prayed daily (every day) for everyone she knew and even those persons she would meet out and about. She never met a stranger and was an advocate for Mary Kay products and North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University. Her oldest daughters would often receive calls from strangers she had met inquiring about buying and selling Mary Kay products or attending college at A&T.
Sister Mac’s hobbies were talking on her cell phone (which was always in hand), and chewing gum. Sister Mac was a true facilitator, for in 2014, she prepared for this time by accurately writing out her obituary and end of life wishes.
On Wednesday, July 15, 2020, the Master called Sister Mac from her earthly suffering to her heavenly healing and rest.
Sister Mac will forever be loved and missed by her husband, Minister Robert “Joe” Johnson, Greensboro, NC; children: Mikosha “Connie” Gatson (Darryl), Greensboro, NC; Pastor Cynthia Jones (Everett), Greensboro, NC; Missionary Paula Rosser (Nathaniel), Atlanta, GA; Deacon Paul Martin, Jr., Atlanta, GA; and Deacon Peter Martin (Tracey), Lawrenceville, GA; siblings: Rev. Haywood Goode, Jr. (Brenda), Enterprise, AL; Shirley Goode Harris (John), Bartow, FL; Linda Goode Bryant, Orlando, FL; John Goode (Dementria), Ft. Worth, TX; and Deacon Carl Goode (Vanessa), Winston Salem, NC; uncle: Deacon Theodies Goode, Greensboro, NC.; 17 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and acquaintances.
