President

Mrs. Lena Goode Johnson was born in Littleton, NC, the only child of the late Mrs. Annie H. Goode. She graduated from Hillside High School in Durham, NC, and continued her academic pursuits at North Carolina Central University, graduating with a degree in English. Mrs. Johnson followed her passion to work with young people and spent most of her professional career serving in various administrative positions at the University of Maryland-College Park, St. Augustine’s University, Shaw University and Fayetteville State University.

Serving on the staff of Career Services at Fayetteville State University, her commendable work as Internship Coordinator led to an appointment by former Governor Mike Easley to chair the North Carolina Internship Council. She was the first African-American woman to hold this position.

Mrs. Johnson is a former president of the Fayetteville Association of Ministers’ Wives and Ministers’ Widows (Interdenominational). Under her leadership, the Fayetteville chapter was one of the strongest and largest in the state. Mrs. Johnson is also a former Chair of the Ministers’ Wives and Widows Fellowship of the Woman’s Baptist Home and Foreign Missionary Convention (WBH-FMC) of NC. As 3rd Vice President of the WBH-FMC of NC, Mrs. Johnson energized the Call to Missions and the Convention body responded awesomely through donations to meet personal needs, financial gifts, and service to many people in need. Mrs. Johnson’s love and commitment to the work of the Convention drives her to “think outside the box” to come up with alternative plans and new mission strategies to help move the Convention forward. Mrs. Johnson is a member of the First Baptist Church (FBC) in Fayetteville, NC, where her husband is Pastor Emeritus, and her current pastor is Rev. Fredrick Culbreth. Under her leadership at the church, the Praise Dance Ministry, the “Unto the Least of These” Clothes Closet, and the Nia Girls Mentoring Program were organized.

Mrs. Johnson remains an active member of the FBC Missionary Circle and Union Baptist Association Women’s Auxiliary. She also serves as Vice President of Church Women United (Fayetteville Unit). She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and the National Organization of Women (NOW).

Mrs. Johnson has been married for 47 wonderful years to Rev. Dr. Cureton L. Johnson and is the mother of two adult sons, Paul (daughter-in-love Nicole) and Cureton M. She is also blessed to be “Grandma” to Jayden, 8 and Jaelynn, 5.

One of Mrs. Johnson’s favorite scriptures is 1 Peter 4:11: “Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ; To Him belongs the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” (NRSV)