Thomas Lee Effend was born on March 2, 1938 to Virgil and Eloise Effend, in Fort Pierce, Florida. He attended public school in St. Lucie County and graduated from Lincoln Park Academy with the class of 1958. He subsequently joined the United States Air Force and served his country honorably for 20 years. He was relieved from active duty July 31, 1978. Following his tenure as an Air Force technical sergeant, he came back to Fort Pierce and worked for the US Postal Service and the Fort Pierce Housing Authority.

As a young man, Reverend Effend joined the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church and was ordained Deacon under Reverend R. James Clifton. There he served for several years before he received the call to ministry. Reverend Effend was ordained to the ministry under the Reverend Howard D. Coleman.

In later years, he established an outreach ministry for the Beull Brown Center for Senior Citizens at the Fort Pierce Housing Authority in Fort Pierce. This ministry took the gospel to the senior citizens who could not attend regular church services.

Reverend Dr. Effend, was a community man and a community preacher. He served for some years at the St. Matthews Baptist Church under Rev. Jimmie Lee Gary Sr. and he served as an associate at Goodwill Presbyterian Church. In his later years, he joined the New Testament Baptist Church under Bishop Ronald Wright Sr. There he served as an associate minister and the corresponding secretary for the Florida Treasure Coast Baptist Association under the leadership of Bishop Ronald Wright who is the moderator. He served as a Commander and adjutant at the American Legion Post 171 for several years. He was a life member of the NAACP.

Reverend Tommy Effend was the second child among his siblings Ulysses Effend, Samuel Ingram, Tommy Ingram, Virginia Pye & Maddie Jean Johnson.

Left to cherish his memories are his loving wife, Emma Effend; children, Kerwin Effend (Tawana), Sandra Reeves, Sharon Spivey, Camellia D. Williams, and Crystal Orandi (Alex); grandchildren, Leonard Childs, Crystal Spivey, Melissa Spivey, Lakresha Lacey, Blondell Effend, Jamorrow Effend, Gia Reeves, Immanuel Ochako Orandi, Arie Aikens, Jasmine Countiss, and Jade Davis; Sister-in-laws, Mary Newkirk, Leona Williams, Pandora Ingram; Brother-in-law, James Kroger, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and sorrowing friends who will miss him dearly.

Reverend Effend was called from labor to reward on May 31, 2022 at the Lawnwood Regional Medical Center. “Blessed are the dead which die in the lord from henceforth; Yea they shall rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.” Revelations 19:13b.

Public visitation for Rev. Thomas Effend will take place on Friday, June 3, 2022 from 4:00pm-7:00pm at Stone Brothers Funeral Home in Fort Pierce, FL. Funeral services will convene on Saturday, June 4, 2022 at the River of Life Fellowship in Fort Pierce, FL beginning at 12:00pm. Burial will immediately follow in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.

Although many venues have opened and the restrictions of COVID-19 have been relaxed, we at Stone Brothers Funeral Homes are still enforcing the guidelines set forth by the CDC and FDOH to protect our families and our staff. We ask that you respect this, as it could very well save your life. We also ask that you acknowledge and execute the 6 feet social distancing guidelines as well.