Patricia Efiom, who was chief equity officer for the City of Evanston and served as the senior pastor of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in Evanston, died Sunday, Sept. 5, at the age of 60.
Ald. Peter Braithwaite (2nd) said Efiom, and Pastor Zollie Webb, who also died over the weekend, were both very active in the community, working with other faith leaders in the 2nd and 5th Wards to address issues of youth violence and other concerns through the Evanston Own It organization.
In her work with the city from 2017 to 2020, Efiom developed an equity plan for the city and was involved in development of its reparations program.
She had been senior pastor at Ebenezer from 2000 to 2016, according to the current pastor, the Rev. Deborah Scott.
Efiom also operated a diversity consulting firm, Efiom & Associates LLC. She held a doctor of ministry degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston and was also on the school’s faculty.
Earlier in her career she had worked as an administrator at Indiana University, where she had received a bachelor’s degree in communication and a master’s in instructional systems technology.
Update 9/12/21: Services for Patricia Efiom will be held on Saturday, Sept. 18, at the First Church of God Christian Life Center, 1524 Simpson St. in Evanston, with visitation at 10 a.m. and the funeral at 11 a.m.