Update: A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church of Pasadena on Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. PDT. The church plans to livestream the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to an interfaith organization that she long supported: “Friends Indeed,” which provides supportive services to meet human needs, especially to the homeless and at-risk neighbors, so that they may rebuild their lives. You may donate directly in her honor at https://friendsindeedpas.org/fid/ or send a donation to our Cal-Pac Annual Conference marked “Bishop Shamana’s Memorial to Friends Indeed.”

Condolences may be sent to: Pat Boyd, 43711 Byron Dr., Lancaster, CA 93535.

Read more about her legacy here: Leadership lessons from Bishop Beverly J. Shamana (UM News)

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It is with deep sorrow that I share with you the passing of Bishop Beverly Shamana. As one of our own from the California-Pacific Annual Conference, Beverly’s distinguished ministerial career lifted her to the office of Bishop in 2000. She served for eight years in our sister annual conference of California-Nevada as the Residential Bishop. Bishop Beverly served for many years on our Connectional Ministries staff and brought creativity and renewal wherever she went.

I had the privilege of serving as the Head of our delegation the year that Beverly was elected to the episcopacy. It was an honor to support her that year, and she was easily elected at the Western Jurisdiction Conference. Her deep and thoughtful responses, coupled with her love of the church made her an ideal leader and calming presence.

In the last few years, she has struggled with an increasingly invasive Parkinson’s disease, and had to have 24-hour care in this last year. Her beautiful spirit was not meant to be confined in a body that was unable to respond to her musical, artistic and emotional intelligent impulses. Her Spirit is now free to return to God and the life that it was meant to be about: joy, laughter, compassion and wisdom.

If you can spend a short time in gratitude to God for giving us the life of Bishop Beverly Shamana, you will be enriched and blessed.

Be the Hope,

Bishop Grant J. Hagiya
Los Angeles Area Resident Bishop