Gregory Allen Shumate passed away on January 26, after a short illness. He was 61-years-old.
His memorial service was held on March 4, in Meridianville, Alabama and officiated by the Rev. Herbert Cartwright.
A native of Los Angeles, Gregory was born on April 28, 1961 to the late Emmons Shumate, Jr., and Mary Alice Shumate. He was the second of three children. He was raised, attended school and participated in sports in Hawthorne, California.
He maintained a deep interest and knowledge of athletics throughout his life, which led to family and friends bestowing upon Gregory the title of “sports encyclopedia.”
Gregory was an avid reader and strongly supported the importance of education. After earning his GED, he went on to attend Hartnell College and Chapman College. He also completed and received Career\Vocational training certificates in Dentistry, Literacy, Optometry and Technology.
However, his greatest joy and achievement was working for the Los Angeles Clippers professional basketball team and the Los Angeles Kings professional hockey team. Gregory also found time to be a community volunteer, going door to door, sitting at tables distributing flyers and personally recruiting attendance at workshops to generate community involvement in local and national issues. His commitment to his community was featured in a January 2020 article in the Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper.
Baptized as a child, Gregory dutifully attended Sunday School, church services and Vacation Bible School. He loved helping ministries of all faiths – his own as well as others. His relatives remember Gregory as “a sharing person, frequently calling, never forgetting birthdays or holidays, and thoughtfully making sure everyone was okay.”
Gregory was preceded in death by his brother, Harold (Don) Shumate. He leaves to cherish his loving memory his mother, Mary Alice Shumate and sister, Rosalyn Shumate of Meridianville, Alabama as well as several aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Gregory Shumate to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
