Seventh-day Adventist Church workers who have passed away since 2022 were honored in an “In Memory” segment during the General Conference Session on Sabbath afternoon, July 12. Introduced by Gerson Santos, associate secretary of the GC, the segment was a time to pause, reflect, and celebrate the lives of those who faithfully served God’s mission.

“They passed away in the line of duty, and we will take a few minutes this afternoon as we celebrate their lives, as we are reminded of their commitment and their service for the Lord,” Santos said.

A short video presentation followed, featuring the names and photos of the 30 individuals— providing a moving tribute to their commitment and impact on the global church.

Three families, representing the late Kleyton Feitosa, Heather Dawn-Small, and Maurice Valentine—faithful leaders who died while serving at the General Conference—joined leaders on stage. GC president Erton Köhler, secretary Richard E. McEdward, and treasurer Paul Douglas personally acknowledged each family, offering tokens of appreciation and words of comfort.

“I believe that you agree with me that the lives of all of those we are honoring today were a huge blessing for our church locally and globally,” Köhler said. “They were instruments of God.”

Quoting Revelation 14, he added, “Now they rest from their labors, but their work will follow them. You are the ones carrying the legacy of them until the day when the Lord will call them again and the families will be reunited.”

He concluded with prayer, asking God to comfort the grieving and bless the families left behind.

In Memory

General Conference Employees

Maurice Valentine, vice president

Heather Dawn-Small, director, Women’s Ministries

Kleyton Feitosa, director, Global Mission Centers

Former General Conference employees

Maurice Bascom, associate director, Church Ministries

Bert Beach, director, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty

Floyd Bresee, secretary, Ministerial Association

Lyndelle Chiomenti, editor, Sabbath School and Personal Ministries

Larry Colburn, associate secretary, assistant to the GC president

May-Ellen Colon, assistant director, Sabbath School and Personal Ministries, director, Adventist Community Services

Maryse Gungagoo, Adventist Risk Management

Robert Kinney, president, Review and Herald Publishing Association

Harold Otis, president, Review and Herald Publishing Association, assistant to the GC president

Humberto Mario Rasi, director, Education

Ben Schoun, vice president

John Stephenson, assistant treasurer

G. Ralph Thompson, secretary

Charles Welsh, general manager, In-House Operations

Former Division Officers

Jacob J. Nortey, former president, Africa Indian-Ocean Division

João Wolff, former president, South American Division

Daniel R. Jackson, former president, North American Division

Alvin Kibble, vice president, North American Division

Arne Nielsen, vice president for Education, North American Division

Debra Clements Brill, vice president, North American Division

Harry Marcellino, Faith for Today

Alfred Burdick, treasurer, AdventSource

International Missionaries

Emmanuelito Benedicto Ligsay, associate treasurer, Papua New Guinea Union Mission

Marica Klemm Mirilov, Bible worker/Women’s and Children’s Ministries coordinator, Cyprus Region

Janet Nightingale, certified nurse, midwife care specialist, Guam

Gary Keith Roberts, director of operations, Adventist Aviation Indonesia

Johnever Glenn Alomia Villagomez, tutorial fellow, University of Eastern Africa Baraton, Kenya

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