September 29, 2021, 101, Mount Olive –
Mrs. Erma Mae Faulk Goodson, born May 5, 1920, in Mt. Olive, passed away at the age of 101, on Wednesday morning, September 29, 2021.
The daughter of the late John Ivey and Pearl Amon, she was a long-time resident of Mt. Olive, NC.
Erma married Wayne E. Faulk in 1937, and they enjoyed their lives together until he passed away in 1982.
Erma was a devoted mother of two sons, and a grandmother of five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. In 1991, she married her second love, Ken Goodson, who passed away in 2008.
She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who was admired for her dedication and determination throughout her adventurous 101 years of life. She never let the grass grow under her feet as she was an avid gardener and oil painter who won a blue ribbon for one of her beautiful paintings. You may have seen some of her paintings over the years on display at a local Mt. Olive downtown restaurant.
During World War II in Wilmington, Delaware, she worked as a Riveter Inspector who ensured that the troops received quality equipment and were well supported in accomplishing their mission. Later, she helped to manage the farm, worked as a manager at the Young Squire Outlet, and attended the Miller Motte Beauty School, which led to her establishing her own beauty salon where she dedicated many years to making woman feel beautiful.
Erma loved the ocean and seashells and she spent many summers creating memories with her children and grandchildren at her home in Sneads Ferry, NC.
The majority of her life was spent in Mt. Olive, NC where she loved attending the First Baptist Church, and volunteering with women’s groups and with the American Association of Retired People.
She loved traveling the east coast area, taking cruises, and traveling to California, and had excursions to Egypt to see the pyramids, and to South Africa for a safari.Another adventurous side of her was flying in a Cessna 2 seat aircraft and riding a motorcycle while in her mid-90s.
Erma saw a tremendous number of global and technological changes in her 101 years ranging from cars that were hand crank started to modern self-driving cars, from the creation of the television to the internet, the beginning of the commercial airline industry, the Women’s Right Movement, and from astronaut Neil Armstrong walking on the moon to the first launch of an all civilian non-astronaut crew on Space X’s Inspiration 4.
After many years of separation, Erma has joined her husbands, Wayne and Ken, and her son, Bob.
Erma is survived by her son, Wayne E. Faulk and his wife, Ellen, of Lawrenceville, Ga.; grandchildren, Wendy Faulk, Emily McMullen and her husband, Marc, Dana Keating, Susan Sweitzer and her husband, Patrick, and Robert S. Faulk, Jr. and his wife, Kelley; great-grandchildren, Sam Sweitzer, Eli McMullen, Aimee McMullen, and Charlotte Keating; a brother, John Ivey Amon, Jr. of Goldsboro; a sister-in-law, Chris Amon of Mount Olive; and several nieces and nephews.
On Saturday, October 9, the family will receive friends in the Christian Life Center at the First Baptist Church of Mt. Olive from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, followed by funeral services in the church sanctuary at 1 p.m., officiated by the Rev. Paul Rose, after which burial will take place at Wayne Memorial Park.
Flowers are welcome, or for those wishing to make a memorial gift, please consider First Baptist Church, PO Box 239, Mount Olive, NC 28365.
A Tyndall Service.
Note for out-of-towners: First Baptist Church is located on the corner of North Chestnut and West John Streets.
Local florist is Front Porch Florist 010 299 4163. Other floral shops are available in surrounding towns as well.
