Incarcerated people at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, as well as self-help volunteers, reflected on the loss of a unique, caring person.
Bernard Moss graduated from the Guiding Rage Into Power self-help program in 2014 and paroled from San Quentin in 2016.
His death on June 8, 2024, was a shock to many, as he left behind a loving family that extends to the GRIP community.
Moss’ contributions greatly impacted incarcerated residents and the GRIP staff. Their words express what Moss meant to them.
Teddie Honey, GRIP Training Institute program director, paid his respects to Moss and the legacy of his mentorship.
Honey said that Moss was a living example of the power of rehabilitative programming. “He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, mentor, role model, and peacemaker. We honor his memory of redirecting ourselves to the work of restorative justice in his name.”
Resident Robert Barnes, a GRIP graduate and facilitator, said that Moss taught him how to be an empathetic listener — that Moss was skilled at listening to people, not with a purpose to respond, but to understand what they were going through.
Barnes said that Moss modeled the phrase “meet people where they are at. It was a blessing to me to have him as a mentor, a teacher, and a friend.”
“When I first met Bernard, I learnred that he was formerly incarcerated,” said resident John Gillie. “I also learned how to become a peacemaker and remain one. He inspired others to be a peacemaker as well.”
Michael Mathis, a current GRIP student who sat in on Moss’ Wednesdays group, said that Moss was “the best mentor I could ask for. I kept wanting to do better because of Bernard; his presence was positively admired. I received a lot of guidance and insight from him.”
GRIP facilitator Jon Goldberg said that Moss is “irreplaceable” and that he had an “infectious personality and a calling to bring change. He was selfless and walked the yard demonstrating that change is possible, if people take steps to do so.
“You’re [Moss] a light in our lives that will always shine bright and push us to be great. Your legacy will forever live in our hearts and in our walk, as we continue to put in the work off the foundation you built for us,” said Goldberg.
Tommy Shakur Ross spoke about his friend and colleague. He said that one evening while shopping in Soledad, California, he entered a shop and saw a huge Raiders’ Football beach towel. He immediately thought of Moss and thought it would be a great birthday gift for him.
The towel is still hanging in Ross’ closet. It has been there for almost a year, waiting for Ross’ October birthday, but he’s no longer with us. Moss’ death came to Ross as a shock.
“I was not done learning from him. Rest in power Bernard ‘Peacemaker’ Moss,” said Ross.
“Bernard embodied the full and selfless truth of generosity. As we walked through the yard at SQ, he was a rock star,” said Nina Gold, a GRIP staffer and meditation coach. “A star who did not care for or need status. He knew himself completely from the inside.”
She says that men flocked toward him with questions, asking for guidance or simply checking in. He made time for everyone. Moss “radiated stability, patience, deep knowing, and an infectious giggle,” said Gold.
She added that one day an incarcerated person yelled jokingly across the yard ‘Hey Moss, you still coming in.” Moss replied, “Yes, I’m going to keep coming in until all are free.”
Gold said, “I knew I was in the presence of a very rare and blessed human, a true leader.”
Incarcerated program facilitator Dennis Jefferson says he got to know Moss more personally a as GRIP training facilitator.
Jefferson said that the mentor gave people a second chances, adding that Moss’ curriculum of the heart had room for third, fourth, and fifth chances.
According to Jefferson, the GRIP program has a policy that no one can repeat the cycle, due to the long wait list. Moss brushed that aside to make space for a resident who returned on a parole violation. Moss said, “We have room for second chances.”
In a previous farewell speech for GRIP founder Jacque Verduin, Moss spoke about being given a chance.
He told Verduin, “Twenty-one years and counting, and you have not kicked me to the curb. I was one of the defiant ones; you accepted me with open arms. I went to the hole [prison’s segregation unit] in 2009, and when I got out, you said ‘I [Moss] have a seat in the group, I love you, and you’ll be seeing me around.’”
Jefferson said that in the gospel of Luke, Jesus healed lepers, but only one returned in gratitude.
He said that with Moss’ passing, we have lost the charismatic voice of a wounded healer who returned to SQ to step up to the question, “can everyone who has been broken be healed?”
“God bless you, Bernard. You will not be replaced, but I will continue to miss you and study the curriculum of the heart,” said Jefferson.
