Meet Johnecia Mason | Preemie Mom & Development Manager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Johnecia Mason and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Johnecia, as a parent, what do you feel is the most meaningful thing you’ve done for them?
As the mother of three boys, who all were born prematurely, I think starting our nonprofit, Rodney’s Gift, has been one of the most important things I’ve done to impact my children. My first son passed away 12 days after being born due to his severe premature status and this prompted me to start the nonprofit. This nonprofit seeks to bring awareness about premature births within the black and brown communities. We seek to provide information on healthy pregnancies before, during, and after a mother has given birth. We also look to provide scholarships for those students interested in neonatology or pursuing a nursing degree with interest in working in the NICU. We also provide grief resources for parents who have suffered infant loss. My surviving boys will always be impacted by premature birth issues because of their birth and they have an older brother who is watching over them because he was born too soon. This will organization that I started will forever be their legacy and their gift to the babies born too soon community.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started my career out as a Business professor on the collegiate level, teaching adults who were going back to obtain their advanced degrees. I served in this role for 12 years and I currently serve as the Development Manager, as well as an, educator teaching financial literacy and entrepreneurship at Loganville Christian Academy. I am most proud that I get to serve alongside an amazing team and I am able to see my son during the day because this is also his school! I am also very excited about leading one of the school’s largest fundraisers, The Annual Fund, my first year on staff! I have overcome many challenges during my career and I am able to stay the path because of my faith and the smiling faces I see on my students!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would absolutely have to take them to The Varsity! This was a rite of passage in my family because we are all native to GA, particularly Atlanta, and was such a treat to get a Frosted Orange! We then would visit Piedmont Park, the World of Coke, the GA Aquarium, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. A ride on Marta is a must!

I’d also have to take them to one of my fav places, The Swan Coach House! A trip to Centennial Park, Chick-fil-A, and Waffle House is a must! Walking around Stone Mountain or even taking in Downtown Covington to see where shows and movies have been filmed!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shout out my husband, Rev. Dr. Rodney Mason, for his support and standing with me during the hard times and being on this journey with me. My Heavenly heartbeat, Rodney III, My 2 Earthly heartbeats, Rodney IV & Roman Mason -My Parents
-My Best Friends, De’Shonda Lucas & Celena Stewart
-Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of GA
-NICU staff at Piedmont Rockdale and Northside Hospital
-Berean Christian Church
-Friends and Community