First Lady Shannon Marie Wallace-Young, born April 23, 1973, is the only daughter of Judith Ann Wallace and Ronald Golding Sr.  She is an honors graduate of Big Beaver Falls Area School District and Bradford School of Business where she graduated with a 4.0 grade point average.  Sister Shannon was saved in her late teens and joined the only church of which she has ever been a member, the Bible Way Church of God in Christ, under the auspices of her late Pastor and Father-in-law, Pastor John E. Young Jr. 

Sister Young is a strong believer in doing “all that your hands find to do, to the glory and honor of God,” and she began serving faithfully in the Church by singing in the choir, ushering, working with the young people on the newspaper staff and helping out wherever needed.  In 1994, she married then “Trustee” John E. Young III and together they served the Lord in sincerity and truth.

After the passing of Pastor Young Jr., Pastor Young III began to lead the people, and Sister Shannon became the “First Lady.”  With the added responsibility of being a Pastor’s wife, Lady Shannon’s prayer life kicked in to high gear and she began earnestly praying for the ministry, her husband, their children, more power and more souls.  She was in charge of the Morning Prayer ministry at her church, where she encouraged the people of God to get on their knees with her to seek the Lord’s face for direction and guidance in every area of their lives.  Through prayer, the Lord gave Lady Young a vision to begin the “Girl Power!” Young Ladies Retreat that targets girls aged 10-17 to make Godly choices in their lives.  The Lord blessed this vision to quadruple the attendance of young ladies since its inception in 2004!  In June 2007, the “Girl Power!” Retreat expanded to the Central District Churches of God in Christ of Western PA with Lady Young at the helm.  She also teaches Sunday School, sings in the Gospel and Women’s Choir, serves as Treasurer for the Mothers’ Board and is the Women’s Ministry President at Bible Way COGIC.

Not only is Lady Shannon active in her local church, in the Erie District Churches of God in Christ, where she served as the President for the Erie District Pastors’ & Ministers’ Wives, and works closely with the District Missionary as wife of the Assistant Superintendent.  In July of 2021, she was promoted to Co-Chairlady of the Erie District, continuing in her service and her work for the Lord.  Within the First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Western PA, Lady Shannon served as the Executive Secretary of the Women’s Department for approximately six years.  In November of 2014, the Lord elevated Lady Shannon yet again, and she received her Deaconess Missionary license in the Church of God in Christ, and in December of 2019, she past the test allowing her to receive her Evangelist Missionary license in the Church of God in Christ.  Outside of the Church, Lady Shannon began her employment at Slippery Rock University (SRU) in the Office of Disability Services in October 2014, and was promoted to the Office of Human Resources in March 2016.  She has served on several search committees during her tenure and become a member of the DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) committee, serving with the University President and other faculty, staff and students of SRU.  Her current position has allowed her to become a 2017 graduate of the Claire Schmieler Leadership Institute for Professional Women, and serve as one of only two public notaries for the University. 

In spite of the many hats she wears, MOST importantly, Lady Shannon is a saved, Holy Ghost-filled, anointed praying woman of God who recognizes the purpose and importance of both her husband’s, as well as her own positions within their home where they raise their four children, John IV, Alex, Joshua and Savannah, and in the Church where she remains steadfast in the ministry.