Regina was born to the Rev. Darrell A. Shavers Sr. and Geraldine Bryant Shavers in Brooklyn, N.Y. Raised in a family entrenched in the tradition of community involvement and social activism, Regina had a long and prestigious career in New York city government.

In 1990, Regina was appointed to the Mayor's Police Council as a representative of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community. During her tenure with the New York Police Department's communications division, Regina served as a shop steward in District Council 37.

In 1989, she was appointed co-chair of the council's lesbian and gay issues committee, and served on the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Lesbian and Gay Rights Advisory Board. In 1990, Regina helped to found Pride At Work, a constituency group of the AFL-CIO that focused on the rights and unionization of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual workers. In 1991, at the age of 50, Regina graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree from Hunter College in English and women's studies. She was a Mellon scholar at the college.

After leaving the police department in 1993, Regina moved on to become assistant director of the New York city department of health's HIV training institute. At the institute, Regina created and implemented training curricula on HIV Over Fifty, Human Sexuality, and provided city-wide certification to HIV pre-test and post-test counselors. In this capacity, Regina was instrumental in training hundreds of HIV/AIDS professionals throughout the city.

Upon retiring from the Department of Health in 2000, Regina became executive director of Griot Circle that she co-founded. Regina worked to counteract the effects of ageism, racism, sexism and homophobia on the aging lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community, and foster an environment which is supportive, empowering and affirming.

Regina loved to sing and was a member of Lavender Light Black and People of all Colors Lesbian and Gay Gospel Choir. She died of cancer. Survivors include her devoted life partner, the Rev. Janyce Jackson.