St. John Chrysostom (A.D. 347-407) stated that Junia was definitely a woman. He wrote: "What brilliance and ability this woman must had to be thought worthy of the title of apostle, indeed to be oustanding among the apostles ( In Epis. ad Romanos homila 31, 12).
With regard to the 'deaconess', the Greek word can either refer to one holding the office of deacon, or to an ordinary servant. The usage must be discerned from the context. In the KJV, this was recognized and the translation is thus: "I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: " That being said, she may well have been a teacher or caretaker of other women. That reading is supported by some commentators.
Paul's statement about Phoebe doesn't seem as though he considered her ordinary : "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cen'chre-ae, that you may receive her in the Lord as befits the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a helper of many and of myself as well."
Thanks - good information.