Dr. Merrilyn Womack Faison

Dr. Merrilyn Womack Faison was born March 9, 1948, in North Little Rock, Arkansas, to the late Lee T. Womack, Sr. and Berneice Days Womack Rodgers. She was the youngest of three children. Her sister, Margaret Robinson, and brother, Captain Lee T. Womack, II preceded her in death.

Merrilyn was educated in North Little Rock, Arkansas, graduating Valedictorian from Harris High School. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Texas College in Tyler, Texas, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1970. She went on to East Texas State University and received a Masters Degree in Special Education in 1971. She then became a special education teacher in the Wilmer-Hutchins School District, a suburb of Dallas, Texas. A proponent of education, Merrilyn would later pursue and receive a second Masters Degree (School Psychology, Temple University, 1979) and her Ph.D. in 2007 (Human Services, Capella University).

In 1970, Merrilyn married her Texas College sweetheart, James W. Faison, III, and the couple relocated to New Jersey in 1972. In 1974, the couple welcomed their daughter, Felicia Nicole. During her time in New Jersey, Merrilyn was employed by the Camden City School District as a special education teacher, school psychologist, and District Supervisor of Special Education. In 1985 she secured a position as school psychologist for the Moorestown, NJ School District and later became Director of Special Education Services for Moorestown Schools. During this same time, Merrilyn served as an adjunct professor at Rowan University, a clinical supervisor for Fairleigh Dickinson University, and an educational consultant for the Educational Improvement Resource Center in Sewell, NJ. Merrilyn retired from the Moorestown School District in 2003, but continued to remain active as a Hearing Officer for the Delaware State Department of Education. After the retirement of her husband, Judge James W. Faison, III, the couple relocated to Georgia in 2009 to be with their daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.

Merrilyn was a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, pledging the Gamma Epsilon Chapter at Texas College in 1967 and becoming an active member and past president of the South Jersey Alumnae Chapter in New Jersey and later a member of the Gwinnett County Alumnae Chapter in Georgia. She was also an active member of St. Bartholomew Roman Catholic Church in Camden, NJ, St. Andrew’s the Apostle Church in Gibbsboro, NJ, the Catholic Church of St. Monica in Gwinnett County, and St. Brigid Catholic Church in Johns Creek, GA. While in New Jersey, Merrilyn was a member of the Black Catholic Ministry and served as the Program Coordinator for the Racial Justice Commission for the Diocese of Camden. In addition to her civic and community work through her sorority and church, Merrilyn enjoyed shopping, entertaining, reading, traveling and, most of all, spending time with her grandchildren. Friends will also fondly remember Merrilyn’s fashionable attire, infectious smile, interests in interior design and feng shui, and her unwavering optimism.

Merrilyn peacefully departed her earthly home on January 7, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. Remaining to cherish her memory and a life well-lived are her husband, Judge James W. Faison, III; her daughter, Felicia Nicole Faison-Holmes, Esq.; her son-in-law George R. Holmes, Jr.; and her grandchildren, Chloe Elizabeth Holmes and Lucas Faison Holmes. Also mourning her passing are her sisters-in-law, Deitrich P. Faison (Turk), and Dr. Christy L. Faison (Anthony); nieces Pairlee Smith (Dale), Michelle Womack, Angela Womack, Crisandra Womack and Nia Faison; her nephews, Robert Robinson (Arness), Clarence Pearson (Tonya) and Lee T. Womack, III (Kelsey), dear childhood friends, Dr. Lottie L. Adams and Geneva Dokes, and a host of relatives, friends, and sorority sisters.

A Celebration of Life in honor of Dr. Merrilyn Womack Faison will be held at the Roswell Funeral Home on Saturday, January 15, 2022, at 12:30 p.m. in Roswell’s Chapel, preceded by a visitation beginning at 12:00 p.m. A livestream will also be available. Committal and burial will follow at Green Lawn Cemetery & Mausoleum.

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Services have been entrusted to the care of Roswell Funeral Home, 950 Mansell Road, Roswell, Georgia 30076.