The Rev. Dr. Steven L. Lyons was born in Sanford, NC to Shirley Strong Lyons and the late James E. Lyons Sr.  He spent his early formative years in Cameron, NC and Rocky Mount, NC, graduating from the Rocky Mount Public School System. Dr. holds the Associate of Science Degree from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, Atlanta, GA, a Bachelor of Science Degree from St. Augustine's University (Summa Cum Laude), Raleigh, NC and a Master of Divinity Degree (Summa Cum Laude) from Shaw University Divinity School also in Raleigh, NC.

 He has earned the Doctor of Ministry Degree which was conferred upon him at Hood Theological Seminary, Salisbury, NC in May 2016. He has completed further studies at Penn State, North Carolina State University and Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary.

Dr. Lyons ministerial career began at St. Paul, Raleigh, NC. After receiving his Itinerant Deacon’s Ordination (2002) and Itinerant Elder’s Ordination (2004), Dr. Lyons became the Pastor of Allen Chapel, Laurinburg, NC. In 2009, he was appointed the Pastor of St. James, Winston-Salem, NC. In 2018, Dr. Lyons was appointed the Pastor of Mt. Zion, Hillsborough, NC. Each pastorate experienced financial growth, new initiatives, programs and ministries, debts were satisfied, mortgages burned, physical upgrades, renovations and upgrades were completed.

On June 22, 2024 at the 2 nd Episcopal District Planning Meeting, Dr. Lyons was appointed as the Presiding Elder of the Western District of the Western North Carolina Conference, serving forty-two Pastoral congregations from Raleigh, NC to Asheville, NC. During his time as Presiding Elder, the Lord led the District to develop a Facebook page, District website, and began a program of revamped financial administration through technology. The congregations of the Western District experienced renewed excitement, energy and commitment to “Serving God, Loving the People and Doing the Work.” After several successful years as Presiding Elder of the Western District, at the 134 Session of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference, Dr. Lyons was appointed Pastor of his home Church, St. Paul, Raleigh.

Dr. Lyons has served as a Conference Trustee, the Judiciary Committee and served on the Board of Examiners and currently serves on the RED Board, Inc. On the 2 nd Episcopal District level, Dr. Lyons served as the Co-Chair of the Nehemiah Ministry. On the Connectional level, he served on the Preliminary Inquisition Committee. Dr. Lyons was elected as an Alternate Delegate to the 2016 General Conference and a delegate to the 2020 and 2024 General Conferences. 

Dr. Lyons is a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (Phi Lambda Chapter) and served as an Associate National Chaplain. Additionally, he serves as a member of the New Bern Avenue Corridor Alliance and the Southeast Raleigh Community Development Corporation. He is a past President of the NC Board of Funeral Service, having been appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper. He is a member of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, the National Funeral Directors Association, the NC Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, the NC Funeral Directors Association and was recently elected a member of the Selected Independent Funeral Homes. Dr. Lyons is married to the former Robin Nicole Johnson. Together, they have 3 children and 2 grandkisses.

The calling upon his life is summed up in the word of God found in Isaiah 61:1-2; “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath anointed me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives…to comfort all that mourn.”

Mrs. Robin Nicole Lyons, a native of Raleigh, NC was born to Harry Johnson and the late Patricia Diane Goode. She is a product of the Wake County Public School
System, having graduated from Garner Senior High School, Garner, North Carolina. Mrs. Lyons earned the Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice
(Pre Law) from North Carolina Wesleyan College (Rocky Mount, NC) as well as the Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice also from North Carolina
Wesleyan College. She has also completed post Baccalaureate Studies at Meredith College (Raleigh, NC).

Mrs. Lyons is a Certified Paralegal with over 20 years of experience. Her expertise is in the Real Estate sector of the Para Legal profession. In May 2025, she graduated from the Funeral Service Program at Fayetteville Technical Community College and now serves alongside her husband as the Vice-President and Licensed Funeral Director at the Steven L. Lyons Funeral Home, Raleigh.

Having professed her faith at an early age, Mrs. Lyons has served in Youth Ministry and as a Youth Leader and in Youth Ministry in the Churches she has been a member. Her maternal family being life- long members of the AME Church, Mrs. Lyons has followed suit as a member of St. Paul AME Church, Raleigh, NC, where she is a member of the Addie G. Stroud Women’s Missionary Society. Mrs. Lyons is active in the community and holds membership in the Junior League of Raleigh having served as the Assistant Captain of the Membership Development Committee. She is also a member of the Garner Women’s Club of Garner and is also a charter board member of the Focus Academy Charter School of Garner.

On June 22, 2024 at the 2 nd Episcopal District Planning Meeting, when her husband, Dr. Lyons was appointed as the Presiding Elder of the Western District of the Western North Carolina Conference, she accepted her role as the Western District Consultant, serving as the Presiding Elder’s Administrative Aide. She developed the Western District website and Facebook page and continued to assist Dr. Lyons in the ministry of service and witness. At the appointment of Dr. Lyons as the Pastor of St. Paul at the 134 th Session of the Western North Carolina Conference, she joined her husband in a new era of Ministry and Service.

Mrs. Lyons, affectionately known as “Ms. Robin,” is the mother of Saivon I. Bucksell Sr. (Maya), a veteran of the US Army and Michala J. Winstead, a Customer Service Representative with Blue Cross Blue Shield and a recent graduate of North Carolina Wesleyan College. She is a doting grandmother of Malachi and twins, Saivon Bucksell II and Zyra Rose, whom she calls her “Grandkisses.” Mrs. Lyons holds firm to her saving faith in God, family and being a forever learning. She believes in the power of words and enjoys traveling, reading, the Justice System, music, and all forms of technology. An aspiring attorney, Ms. Robin joins her husband, Dr. Steven L. Lyons, as a helpmate and partner in life and the callings the Lord has placed upon their lives.