Julia Shumate

Julia Merecedes Shumate, affectionately known as Meche, passed away at her home on August 30, 2025. She was born on May 10, 1951 in Lima, Peru to the late Pedro y Julia Arias.

She grew up in Lima, Peru and attended Las Esclavas del Sagrado Corazón. After graduation, she went to nursing school at Rebagliati hospital for intensive care.

In the 1990s, she immigrated to the United States and began working at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, where she met the love of her life, Michael Benjamin Shumate. They shared a happy marriage until his passing. She later retired from the Hyatt Regency Atlanta in 2014, though she continued working part-time at the Grand Hyatt in Buckhead.

She was a devoted Catholic whose life was guided by faith, prayer, and her commitment to her parish at the Catholic Church Sagrado Corazon de Jesus.

She leaves behind cherished memories with her beloved fur babies, Camila and Cookie. She is survived by her two sisters, Maria Margarita Rest Moyano and Maria Griselda Arias Moyano, and her brother, Jose Luis Arias Moyano (wife, Ana). She also leaves behind a host of nieces and nephews, along with their spouses: Patricia Carbajal, Monica Carbajal, Maria Tolbert (husband, Connie), Sofia Perez (husband, Horacio), Joel Arias (wife, Cinthia), Junior Arias (wife, Teresa), Josue Arias, Michael Arias (wife, Julia), Alfonso Carbajal, Fidel Castro, Andres Castro, and Diego Arias, as well as many grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

She was especially grateful for the love and support of dear friends, Claudia and nephew Connie, who stood by her throughout her medical journey.

She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.