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Dr Maxine Thornton-Reese (Courtesy photo)<\/p>\nDallas native, long term educator, civic, social and community leader died Friday, August 15, after a lengthy illness.\u00a0Maxine Thornton-Reese, 86, a \u00a0vintage community uplift and \u201clet\u2019s grow together ally\u201d succumbed quietly at home last Friday surrounded\u00a0by family.<\/p>\n
A long-term member of the Delta Sigma\u00a0Theta Sorority, Inc. Dallas Alumnae Chapter, Thornton-Reese developed a passion for community involvement\u00a0and sharpened her community service skills through ongoing\u00a0active community uplift engagements.<\/p>\n
Dallas Independent School District (Dallas-ISD) trustee Joyce Foreman, and former Lincoln High School math student in Thornton-Reese\u2019s class, posted, \u201cMaxine was strict but fair, said Foreman, adding, \u201cand she demanded your best. I would\u2019ve had all \u201cA\u201ds one grading period at Lincoln High School but for the \u201cB\u201d Dr. Thornton-Reese gave me. When I questioned her . . . she said I \u00a0was improving.\u201d Foreman praised Dr. Thornton-Reese for consistency in setting high performance standards.<\/p>\n
Dr Maxine Thornton-Reese (Courtesy photo)<\/p>\n
Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert noted\u00a0the trait as well in commenting recently about Thornton-Reese, saying, \u201cShe gifted the City of Dallas with eight years, serving as District 4 City Council Member from 1999 through 2007.\u00a0 Dr. Thornton-Reese represented the district and overall city well and she continued to positively impact the City after serving\u00a0on the Council.\u201d<\/p>\n
Born in Dallas in 1938, Thornton-Reese attended Dallas public schools and continued her post high school education by earning her undergraduate and Masters degrees\u00a0from the University of North Texas (then North Texas State College). She earned her Ph.D. from Texas A&M University at Commerce.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaxine was an unwavering educator and public servant, her guiding vision help transform Dallas and left a lasting imprint of pride, dignity, and purpose.,\u201d said her close friend and sorority sister Texas State Representative Toni Rose, adding, \u201cI cherish and I am immensely grateful for her friendship and the strength of sisterhood she embodied.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a DART board member, Thornton-Reese consistently worked DART\u2019s customer service and community outreach departments to better communicate and connect to DART customers who rely on public transit to travel within DART\u2019s service region.<\/p>\n
Thornton-Reese\u2019s Dallas Alumnae Chapter of her beloved Delra Sigma Theta Sorority issued the following statement in saluting her 49 years of continuous service:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Dallas Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. mourns the passing of our beloved Soror Dr. Maxine Thornton-Reese. She was a woman of great faith, strength, and purpose whose unwavering commitment to education, public service, and sisterhood has left an indelible mark on our community and our Sorority. Soror Reese\u2019s legacy of dedicated leadership and strong will continue to inspire generations to come. We extend our heartfelt prayers and deepest condolences to her family.\u201d<\/p>\n