Shannon Patrice Belcher was born to Wanda Merritt Patterson and the late Jerome Belcher, Sr., on September 12, 1974, in Cincinnati Ohio.
On Wednesday, March 16, 2016, Shannon transitioned from this life into eternal rest. Shannon was christened in her infancy, in 1974, at the former Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Walnut Hills. In her youth, she accepted Christ as her personal Savior and was baptized at Bethlehem Temple Apostolic Church in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Shannon attended Cincinnati Public Schools and was a graduate of the School of Creative and Performing Arts. She continued her education at the Boston Conservatory of Music, in Boston Massachusetts, where she received her Bachelor of Music-Opera Emphasis in 1996. While studying in Boston, Shannon attended New Life Restoration Temple, under the leadership of Bishop Bernard Bragg. She continued her studies at the Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and received her Master’s Degree in Voice Performance-Opera Emphasis 1999.
During her time at the School of Creative and Performing Arts, Shannon was a Corbett-Mayerson Winner. She was also the Senior Class President of her graduating class. She participated in the Latin Club, Black Achievers, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, District Band Competition, the State Choir Competition and the Percussion Ensemble. Shannon sang with the Meridian 8, The Gospel Choir, and in the Mixter Concert. She also performed in the Martin Luther King Tribute, A Christmas Carol, Carmina Burana, and The Wiz ’91, where she played the role of Evaline.
While attending the Boston Conservatory of Music, Shannon was a member of the Boston Public Service through Music Club, at the Berklee College of Music, from 1993-1996. In addition, Shannon had the opportunity to perform as a back-up singer for a Dianna Ross concert at Harbor Lights in Boston, Massachusetts.
While Shannon pursued her Master’s studies at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, she was a First Year Academic Advisor, a Resident Assistant Staff Manager, a Professor’s Assistant, and a member of the Black Student Union. She played Maurya in the performance of Riders to the Sea, and was a Prop Assistant for The Old Maid and the Thief. Shannon also played roles in Viva la Mamma, LiEgisto, Marriage of Figaro, Die Fledermaus, La Faciulla del West, Captain Lovelock and Idomeneo.
Shannon was a private voice instructor for the School of Creative and Performing Arts and Indian Hills Schools in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was a song writer artist for ROJO Productions Tis the Season, Ching Ching, Lost it All, It’s Alright (2005), Keep it Movin’ (2013). She also held various positions in Office Management.
Shannon was a loving daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, confidant and friend. She leaves to cherish her memory, her mother, Wanda Merritt-Patterson, Stepfather, Gerald Patterson, Stepmother, Cynthia Belcher; three brothers, Jerome Belcher, Jr.(Kathryn), Brandon Patterson (Natasha) and Sheldon Belcher, all of Cincinnati, OH; aunts, Angela Burbridge (Wendell), Betty Moses and Cynthia Belcher; uncles, Don Merritt (Janice), Gregory Belcher; nephews, Jerome, Jeremy, Xavier; nieces, Jenelle, Janae, Brianna, Deja, and Nejai. She also leaves to cherish her memory, Godparents, Ernest and Daphne Robinson; spiritual mother, Evangelist Alicia Greer; and best friends, Angela Newberry Allen and Keli G. Saltibus, and a host of cousins, relatives and friends.