Tommie L. Riley was born July 10, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi to the late Presley and Geneva Riley. He was the third child of nine siblings. Seven of his siblings and one daughter preceded him in death. Tommie accepted Christ at an early age. Reverend Tommie Riley joined the Universal Hagar's Spiritual Church in 1982 under the pastorate of the late Reverend Barry Robbins. He served faithfully beside Rev. Robbins and the deacon's board to remodel and maintain the Temple