The head of the South Seas Evangelical Church, Reverend Bishop Festus Suruma died early Saturday morning in Honiara.

Reverend Bishop Suruma passed away at the National Referral Hospital early hours Saturday morning.

Mourners packed the SSEC compound Sunday afternoon to farewell Reverend Bishop Suruma in a four hours funeral service.

His body was transported Sunday evening for burial in his village in North Malaita.

SIBC news quote Vice Bishop of SSEC Reverend Erick Takila as stating that the death is a big loss to the church.

Rev. Takila told SIBC that the late Reverend Bishop Suruma had suffered diabetic related illnesses since he returned from a prayer conference in Egypt earlier this year.