ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Pastor Shawn Thomas was a mentor, a leader and a friend.
He had a natural calling to serve his community from a very young age.
He was the senior pastor at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in St. Petersburg.
Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers told Bay News 9's Katya Guillaume on Saturday, “He just got here and that was in November. Actually, when he was installed, so we’re talking literally just a few months.”
Pastor Thomas was just getting settled in his new role at the church, the same one he attended as a young boy where members like Deborah Figgs-Sanders, watched him grow up.
She said, “We knew then that Shawn was something special. We knew then that he had a message, that he was going to live this life where he took so many people and touched so many people.”
A life was tragically taken way too soon.
Pastor Thomas took a friend for a fun trip on his boat at Lake Seminole on Friday, but a fun day took a frightening turn.
Just after 2 p.m., Seminole Fire Rescue helped Thomas when his boat started filling up with water.
They were able to safely get them out of the water and off the boat.
Hours later, Thomas called a friend to help him go back to the lake and get the boat.
While they were tying the boats together, Thomas’ boat capsized, and he fell into the water.
Later that night, officials found his body.
Commissioner Flowers said losing their church leader will be felt among several generations, especially the youngest.
“I believe for him and the void that will be missing will be that void that connection between African American youth and the church because he allowed the word to tie together so that individuals can see how it fits into their life right now,” she said.
Pastor Thomas’ legacy will be one that many will remember for years to come.
Pinellas County deputies say Thomas was not wearing a life vest.
This story is still developing. We will update the story on how the community can pay their respects when that information becomes available to us.
