Thomas Louis McLain III was born on November 4, 1949, in Jacksonville, Florida to Thomas Louis McLain Jr. and Jessie L. Hatten- Lowe. Jessie later met and married Calvin Williams Jr., who reared him from a tender age.

He attended Jacksonville schools and later multiple schools throughout the south. He graduated from Dunbar High School in Fort Myers, Florida. Soon after high school Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war and served his country for three years. He traveled around the world with his parents Bishop Calvin and Mother Jessie L. Williams evangelizing. He was very instrumental in the establishment of multiple churches both nationally, and internationally.

The lord typically revealed to him or his mother where they were to evangelize next. The Lord showed him a city called Immokalee, Florida, and they had the greatest tent revival there for over a year, and many souls were saved, healed, and delivered. After the revival, the Lord sent his parents to Cleveland, but he stayed to help build the new church, literally carrying the bricks every day for the brick mason.

During his time in Immokalee, Thomas met Laverne Evans, and they were married on December 4, 1977. They relocated to Cleveland, Ohio in July of 1978, where they have remained until his passing on March 10, 2023, at Cleveland Clinic – Avon Hospital, Avon, Ohio. They were blessed to know each other for 46 years and were married 45 years. To this union five children were born: Erica, Thomas IV (Monique), Ebony, Tiffany, and Adam.

Thomas was a generous man with a special love for children, the elderly and mankind. He was a giver – willing to help anyone in need. Thomas was also a mathematician and an accomplished piano and organ player. He often told of the miracle that God worked in his life that enabled him to become a musician for the church. According to Thomas, while struggling to learn to play without a teacher, one night he had a vision. He stated that “God lit up the sky and gave me a mathematical formula for music.” That very night he practiced all night until learned to play in every key by ear. Later, Thomas taught himself to read music. Thomas used his gift to travel with his parents playing under the gospel tent each night. He could always be counted on to make people laugh, as no one ever knew what to expect when talking with him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bishop Calvin Williams Jr. and Jessie L. Williams, and a brother, Bishop Warren Taylor Jr. (Trena).

He leaves to mourn his passing his devoted wife, Laverne Evans-McLain; a brother, Emmanuel Roberts (Angela); five children, Erica S. McLain, Thomas Louis McLain IV (Monique), Ebony McLain, Tiffany McLain, and Adam McLain; nine grandchildren, Ariel McLain, Essence Goings, Joseph D. Hollyfield Jr., Jadah S. Vaughn, Adam H. Mclain Jr., Thomas Louis McLain V, Dana D.L. Combs, Tristan J. McLain, and Trenton M. McLain; nieces and nephews, Andrea Davis, Warren Taylor III, Brittany Roberts, Emmanuel Roberts Jr., and Christopher Roberts; Godchildren, Lakeitha Hooks, Ambra Moss, Gavin Algee, and DeJanee Algee; honorary children, Derrick Lockett, Rachel Scott (Willie), Samona Boyd-Walker (Leon) and many other children as he was a father to many.