Jersey and raised in Dover, Delaware. After graduating from high school, he studied graphic design at Annotonelli School of Photography and Graphic Design (1965 - 1968) and Moore College of Art (1966 - 1968), both located in Philadelphia, Pa. He received a B.S. Degree from Temple University (1969). His divinity studies include Wilberforce University Payne Theological Seminary later receiving a Masters of Divinity from Drew University Divinity School (1974). In addition, Dr. Shockley received a Doctoral Fellowship form the University of Dayton, sponsored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews, to study Conflict Management and Behavioral Psychology. He later transferred to the Center for Post Graduate Studies sponsored by Ohio State University, Wittenburg University and Antioch College, and received a Ph.D in Behavioral Science (1982).

Over the years, Dr. Shockley's civic and community involvements have included: Chairperson, Prince George's Counter Voter Registration; member, Coalition "Operation BIg Vote"; member, Black Leadership Round Table; member, Rainbow Coalition of Baltimore City. As a clergy of the United Methodist Church, Pastor Shockley has served as Vice Chairperson, Board of Communications, Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference; Chairperson, United Methodist Community Services; Chairperson, Editorial Board of the Conference Connection Newspaper; member, Area on Worship, 1984 - 1988; Vice Chairperson, Conference Board of Ordained Ministries.

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Bishop Stith's early involvement in the UMC was the Central West Conference, Central Jurisdiction. He received a B.S. from the University of Nebraska, a Masters of Divinity from Drew Theological Seminary with post graduate studies at Princeton Theological Seminary and Howard University. He holds honorary doctorate degress from Western Maryland College and Nebraska Wesleyan University.

Bishop Stith served the Baltimore-Washington Conference for twenty-six years as pastor, Council Director, and District Superintendent, the latter from which he was elected to the Episcopacy in 1984. One of his many responsibilities was the oversight of a loan fund of one million dollars that provided grants/loans to churches in the Washington and Baltimore areas. He was active in the Civil Rights Movement during the 60's and 70's and missions of the church at home and abroad, primarily in Africa. He and his family spent four months in Liberia in 1974 where he taught at the Gbarnga School of Theology.

For eight years he was the Episcopal Leader of the New York West area, including the North Central Conference, and the Western New York Conference. During his tenure he brought together two conferences into a merger (North and Central), focusing on local church development and a stronger missions emphasis. He led groups to Africa, Israel, and other world ventures, resulting in a heightened sensitivity to the global reality of the church.

Also, while an active Bishop, he studied throughout the globe to understand needs of his area of ministry. He and wife, Josephine, spent three months in Brazil understanding spirituality that is holistic, personal, and social. They travelled to Indonesia and Korea to witness and evaluate the fast growing churches and their lifestyles; to Costa Rica to learn Spanish to minister to area Hispanic churches; to Russia to visit the developing churches where every person is born a member of the Orthodox Church.

From 1992 to 1995, he was assigned to the New York Annual Conference. Here he began a similar ministry of local church development, clergy leadership, global outreach, and strengthening financial undergirding for local congregations and the Conference. He retired in 1996 after a g a year of medical disability. He spend the next three years working on behalf of the Council of Bishops and the Board of Global Ministries in East Africa, supervising new congregations and mission projects in Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, and Uganda.Bishop Stith has been and continues to be very active in a teaching ministry for the past ten years. He has been a faculty member of several schools of Christian Mission and held teaching days for laity and clergy. In 2003, he was the "Distinguished Visiting Faculty Member" at Wesley Theological Seminary.

He also served on the special task force that published the Songs of Zion African American Hymnal for the UMC. Bishop Stith served as Vice President and President of the Denomination General Council of Finance and Administration and co-chair of the Ecumenical Decade Churches in Solidarity with Women.

Bishop Stith is married to Josephine M. Stith, an accomplished educator. They have a daughter, Lori Crystal Stith.

four generations, her family home church has been Plum Point United Methodist Church in Calvert County, Maryland.

During her early spiritual development, Reverend Hairston served as an acolyte, liturgical dance minister, and choir member in the Youth for Christ Chorale. For over fifteen years she has served in the liturgical dance ministry. Her ministry of dance allows her to teach other women the art of liturgical dance, to choreograph, and travel as a soloist to various churches, weddings, and Christian conferences. Reverend Hairston received formal dance training from the Washington School of Ballet and the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Her church leadership experience includes her appointment as an ordained deacon under the leadership of Bishop Don Meares, Evangel Cathedral Church. Her ministry internships while at Howard School of Divinity included pastoral care ministry in the Office of the Chaplain at Howard University Hospital and young adult ministry at Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church. Inspired by her passion for Old Testament Studies, Reverend Hairston has taught for four years a course she created, "Seeking the Wisdom of God" which focuses on the Old Testament Wisdom and poetical Books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.

She has served in various leadership capacities as a youth and young adult leader providing administrative/logistical planning for national conferences, evangelism activities, coordinator of social activities, prayer leader, tutor, and mentor to high school students. Her administrative skills have benefited the church in planning community town hall meetings, leadership trainings, and evangelism activities. Reverend Hairston also possesses the gifts to counsel, inspire, motivate, encourage, and strengthen others in and through their efforts to live out their calling as Christians.

In 1997 Reverend Hairston received a Masters in Public Administration from Howard University. In 2004 she completed undergraduate studies in political science; in 2006, she received a Masters of Divinity from the Howard University School of Divinity. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Alpha Chapter).

Reverend Hairston is currently employed at the Department of Housing and Urban Development where she serves as a program analyst for public housing grant programs designed to provide funding opportunities for housing assistance and training to tribes and public housing authorities.