Mrs. Effie Oneal Gallien

May 31, 1932 - December 30, 2020

We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8 On December 30, 2020 God saw fit to receive Effie O'Neal Gallien into His presence as she took her rightful place amongst the others that would await her arrival into heaven. Born May 31, 1932 in Tipton County, Tennessee, Effie was affectionately known and called O'Neal by her children, family, and friends. She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior and was baptized at an early age at St. Mark A.M.E. Church in Munford, Tennessee. After leaving Tennessee, she traveled to Detroit, Michigan to live with her brother for a while but eventually joined the rest of the family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Upon her arrival to Milwaukee, she continued to express her faith and passion for the Lord's word at St. Mark A.M.E. Church, but later found her church home at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church. It was at Pilgrim Rest that she would become a part of the Gospel Choir and a regular attendee of Sunday School, until her health no longer allowed her full participation, but you could still see and hear her singing along in the church pews! She enjoyed traveling and looked forward to her annual trip to her hometown, Munford, TN with her sisters and family members. Effie received her formal education in Munford, TN and later life's lessons further educated her along with her strong faith in the Lord and her true understanding of God's Word through her love of reading her Bible and weekly Sunday School Lessons. She worked at Pfister and Vogel for many years and was a proud employee, but it was her true passion that she·later found while working for Milwaukee County and while working for the House of Correction where she proudly retired after 25 years of dedicated service. She loved the work that she did at "the house," as she called it. She enjoyed working in the laundry room with "her boys." She attended Milwaukee Area Technical College and took up literacy and upholstering, which gave her the skills to re-upholster many of her family members' chairs and couches. She was a community advocate with the ACORN group that led to many opportunities for her community and other surrounding communities in Milwaukee. O'Neal was a dedicated mother first and foremost to her four children. She treasured and embraced every moment with them. Giving them a strong sense of morals, wisdom and values. She would later come to share that love and wisdom with her grandchildren, great -grandchildren and great -great grandchildren to whom she would also share her love of going to church, loving Jesus and cooking for family gatherings. She had a vivacious personality and always made people around her laugh. She was known for being able to recall family history and giving you a good story to go along with that. Her sense of fashion could not be missed: Best described by her granddaughter Crystal, "a praying woman, your roadie/BFF, all the sass and class, and filled with the Holy Spirit. Her home stayed lit w/Luv," Her Stuff (all of us) and laughter. She leaves to cherish her memories of love and family, her children; Richard Boyd, Sr. James Franklin (Robbie) Boyd, Barbara ]o Henry, Larry Gallien and her loving Sister Betty Jean Harris . . Her Stuff (Grand Children); Mylette Boyd, Adriene Boyd, Dr. Eric Gallien, Pastor James Boyd, Kandie Boyd, Michael Lea, Richard Boyd jr., Marlon Boyd, Sabrina Manuel, Brandon Boyd, JohnnyMartise (X) Johnson, Raven Boyd; 34 Great-GrandChildren, and 21 Great-Great Grand Children, her honorary grand-children, loving nieces, nephews, cousins, family members, church members and friends that received her love. She was preceded in death by her mother and father; James and Anna Boyd- Duckworth, Sisters: Marie Boyd, Patron Brazziel, Emma Cullen, Geneva Webb, Mary Helen Harris. Brothers; Ed Boyd, Cecil Boyd, James Boyd, and Ebert Earl.