Johnie Mae Atkinson-Faulkerson

Johnie Mae Atkinson-Faulkerson, 68, went home to be with the Lord on February 24, 2016, at West Penn Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

She was born on March 10, 1947, in Laurel, Miss., daughter of the late Ora D. Lyons and Lillie Mae McCoy Lyons.

At a young age, she moved to Erie, Pa. with her family. She was a lifetime member of Shiloh Baptist Church.

She graduated from East High School in 1965 and received her higher education at Gannon University in Psychology and Urban Systems Planning and Administration. She was a graduate of Leadership Erie.

With over 40 years of Hospital Administration experience, she served as Chief Diversity Officer for Allegheny Health Network and Senior Vice President / Chief Human Resource Officer of Saint Vincent Hospital. Her expertise in employee relations and HR best practices made Johnie well known among hospital associates and easily approachable at all levels throughout the organization.

Through her association with Saint Vincent's Hospital, she lived the charisma and mission of the Sisters of Saint Joseph as an Associate for over 20 years.

She was the founding Board Chair of the Robert Benjamin Wiley Charter School, and served on the Management Committee and was Chairperson of the Board of Trustees for the school. She was instrumental in advising the Pennsylvania Governor's office on the development of charter school legislation. At the school, she developed a social network safety system for single parents of the school's students and developed educational opportunities that provided the pathway from poverty to successful and contributing citizenship for more than 5,000 children and indigent families.

She was also a founding Board Member of Community Health Net and served as Chair of the United Way of Erie County. She designed and developed Project Blue Print, a program that identified and trained young minority professionals to sit on non-profit boards in Erie County.

Johnie made history for most of her life. As a high school student, she was one of the youngest persons to accompany Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the Selma to Montgomery Freedom March. Throughout her lifetime, she tried to exemplify the ideals and personify the dreams of Dr. King by giving back to her community in numerous ways. She was the recipient of many community service and advocacy awards, including Woman Making History 2012 and the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award by the Edinboro King Awards Committee in 2015.

She was an avid gardener and had great love for plants. She won several awards for the best landscaped yard in her neighborhood. She had a general love for people and enjoyed spending time with her family and extended family.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husbands, John Atkinson and Charles Faulkerson; a son, David Atkinson; three brothers, Robert, Lloyd and Olee Lyons; and one sister, Carolyn (Pumpkin) Lyons.

She is survived by a son, Mark Atkinson (Kristen); daughter, Ingrid Faulkerson-Grevious (David); three brothers, Jetson Lyons (Betty), Billy Ray Lyons (Yvonne) and George Lyons; two sisters, Essie Mae Lyons and Grace Evelyn Lyons; grandchildren, Jonathan Atkinson, Ian Michael Grevious and Corrine Grevious; a special niece, Yvonne Lyons; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Visitation with the family will be Thursday, March 3, 2016, from 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church, 901 East 5th Street. Funeral services will be held at Shiloh Baptist Church on Friday, March 4, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. with Dr. Michael T. Williams, Jackson, Miss., eulogizing and Rev. Anthony Harris, Pastor, officiating. Donations and contributions can be made to the Children's Miracle Network, in care of Saint Vincent Hospital, and the Charles Faulkerson Scholarship Fund, in care of PNC Bank.

Arrangements are entrusted to Pitts Funeral Home.

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