My heart was grieved when I received a call from a family representative informing me of the passing of Bishop Violet Fisher.

Bishop Violet Fisher’s legacy and influence live on in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and throughout the whole church.

She was ordained a deacon and a full elder in the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference in 1988 and 1990, respectively. Her gift for leadership was so evident that Bishop Susan Morrison appointed her as a District Superintendent in 1994—only four years after she had been ordained a full elder. Her gifts soon became known beyond the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference, and in 2000, Bishop Fisher became the first African American woman elected as bishop in the Northeast Jurisdiction.

My first personal encounter with Bishop Fisher was about fifteen years ago, when she came to preach a revival service at a church near Washington, D.C., in the district where I was serving as superintendent. Bishop Fisher preached with such power and conviction that the presence of the Holy Spirit overtook the sanctuary. And after she had poured herself out in preaching, Bishop Fisher still took time to ask me about my ministry as a superintendent. She offered invaluable advice and counsel.

Bishop Fisher remained an advisor and cheerleader whenever I saw her after that initial encounter, including when she learned that I was offering my name for consideration for election to the episcopacy. It was deeply humbling for me to become the second African American woman elected as bishop in the Northeast—sixteen years after Bishop Fisher’s historic election. Her mentorship, and undoubtedly her prayers, made it possible.

Through both example and personal interaction, Bishop Fisher served as a mentor and spiritual guide to countless lay and clergy leaders. Her reliance on the movement of the Holy Spirit amazed and inspired those around her. Her prophetic voice challenged and moved the church toward a deeper understanding of what it means to love like Jesus. Her preached word at the 2008 General Conference remains relevant today. She declared, “I know that God is calling the church to be the church this day. We are to model to the world that we are the beloved community.”

Although she left the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference twenty-five years ago following her election as bishop, her influence continues to be felt in the churches she served, the district she oversaw, and the entire annual conference.

The Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference was—and remains—blessed by Bishop Violet Fisher’s ministry among us. Even in our grief, we find comfort in the confidence that on November 17, 2025, our beloved Bishop Violet L. Fisher heard our Creator say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Well done!”