LUMPKIN- Mrs. Naomi Opera Irene Bartley Lumpkin was a native of Jacksonville, Florida. She was born on March 24, 1949 and was the third child of Willie Osborne and Mary Lena Bartley. Mrs. Lumpkin grew up singing in her grandfather’s church (The Church of the Living God the Pillar and Ground of the Truth – Arlington) and was a member of the “Sensational Holy Travelers” singing group under the direction of her aunt, Deborah Bartley.
Mrs. Lumpkin grew up in the Arlington area where she attended the local schools and graduated from Douglas Anderson High School (Class of 1966). She began her formal vocal studies at Florida Junior College (Jacksonville, FL), and continued her training at Bethune-Cookman University (Class of 1971 - Daytona Beach, Florida), Aspen School of Music (Aspen, Colorado), and is a former member of the Opera Training Department at The Juilliard School of Music, (New York City, New York.)
Mrs. Lumpkin was most noted for her professional opera singing, but she was also employed as a bank teller during the late seventies, and a local music teacher at Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary, Rutledge Pearson Elementary, and Alimacani Elementary. She was also employed as an educator for Dade County Public Schools while living in Miami, Florida.
Mrs. Lumpkin married the love of her life, the late John Arther Lumpkin, Sr., on May 19, 1973. From this union, two children were born: Ravandala Irene Lumpkin-Johnson, and John Arthur Lumpkin, II. “John and Irene” were married for almost 37 years until his passing on April 16, 2010.
Mrs. Lumpkin was a professional opera singer for many years. Included in her impressive array of awards and honors are: winner of the Metropolitan Opera District Auditions, Sarasota, FL; Artist of the Year, State of Florida; winner, Southeastern Regional Auditions of Teachers of Singers; Ester B. Griswold Award of the Florida Atlantic Music Guild, singer in Menotti’s Opera (New York City), winner of the Arturo Toscanni Award for the Civic Opera Auditions, (West Palm Beach, Florida); winner of the Giuseppe Verdi Award in (West Palm Beach), and winner of the Indiana Opera Theater’s Southeast Regional Competitions in Naples, Florida.
Mrs. Lumpkin’s teachers at Juilliard included Rose Bampton, Martin Smith, William Marshall and Madeline Marshall. Mrs. Lumpkin has also performed on many occasions with the Jacksonville Symphony, the Opera Repertory Company of Jacksonville, and at countless concerts and recitals at local churches and concert halls.
Mrs. Lumpkin was a faithful and dutiful member of Carpenter’s House Church of God in Christ where her son-in-law, Superintendent Cedric D. Johnson, Sr., was her pastor. She sang in the local church choir and was also a member of the Florida Central Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdictional Choir.
Mrs. Lumpkin was the pastor’s wife at the former Family Life Fellowship Church of Arlington, where her husband, the late John Arther Lumpkin, Sr., was pastor. While there, she was a loving and supportive pastor’s wife serving in many capacities and positively impacting everyone with her spirit of love and joy.
In the church realm, she was known as, “Mother Lumpkin” and proudly served as the local, district, and jurisdictional president of the Sunshine Band Childrens’ Chorus. Mrs. Lumpkin could always be found giving of her time and resources to provide training, etiquette lessons, and varied musical and educational experiences for the children. In her personal time, Mrs. Lumpkin was an avid fisherman, and enjoyed shopping, singing, and traveling with her family.
Children: Ravandala Irene Lumpkin-Johnson, (Cedric) John Arthur Lumpkin, II (Jessica); Grandchildren: Carrington Johnson- Mercer (Darrius), Janelle Lumpkin, Cedric Johnson, II, Jordyn Lumpkin, and Julia Lumpkin; Sisters: Shirley M. Coleman (Tyrone) and Patsey L. Searcy; Aunt: Sophia Y. Demps; Brother and Sister in Laws: Earl Lumpkin (Cora), Betty Jean Perkins (Earnest), Jessie Lumpkin, (Joyce) Melvin Lumpkin, (Rhonda), Verley Lumpkin, and Ray Lumpkin; Special Friends and Loved Ones: Mother Valerie Fordham, Missionary Terrie Powell, Minister Sue Carmichael, Kathy Daniels, and Mother Shirley Johnson; A host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and dear friends.
Mrs. Lumpkin's funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at 10AM at Southside COGIC, 2179 Emerson Street Jacksonville, Florida 32207. Ms. Lumpkin's remains will rest for visitation of family and friends at THE CHURCH Friday, February 16, 2024 from 5-8PM.
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