Dallas native, long term educator, civic, social and community leader died Friday, August 15, after a lengthy illness. Maxine Thornton-Reese, 86, a vintage community uplift and “let’s grow together ally” succumbed quietly at home last Friday surrounded by family.
A long-term member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Dallas Alumnae Chapter, Thornton-Reese developed a passion for community involvement and sharpened her community service skills through ongoing active community uplift engagements.
Dallas Independent School District (Dallas-ISD) trustee Joyce Foreman, and former Lincoln High School math student in Thornton-Reese’s class, posted, “Maxine was strict but fair, said Foreman, adding, “and she demanded your best. I would’ve had all “A”s one grading period at Lincoln High School but for the “B” Dr. Thornton-Reese gave me. When I questioned her . . . she said I was improving.” Foreman praised Dr. Thornton-Reese for consistency in setting high performance standards.
Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert noted the trait as well in commenting recently about Thornton-Reese, saying, “She gifted the City of Dallas with eight years, serving as District 4 City Council Member from 1999 through 2007. Dr. Thornton-Reese represented the district and overall city well and she continued to positively impact the City after serving on the Council.”
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 from the University of North Texas (then North Texas State College). She earned her Ph.D. from Texas A&M University at Commerce.
“Maxine was an unwavering educator and public servant, her guiding vision help transform Dallas and left a lasting imprint of pride, dignity, and purpose.,” said her close friend and sorority sister Texas State Representative Toni Rose, adding, “I cherish and I am immensely grateful for her friendship and the strength of sisterhood she embodied.”
As a DART board member, Thornton-Reese consistently worked DART’s customer service and community outreach departments to better communicate and connect to DART customers who rely on public transit to travel within DART’s service region.
Thornton-Reese’s Dallas Alumnae Chapter of her beloved Delra Sigma Theta Sorority issued the following statement in saluting her 49 years of continuous service:
“The 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’s legacy of dedicated leadership and strong will continue to inspire generations to come. We extend our heartfelt prayers and deepest condolences to her family.”
The wake will be this Friday, August 22, at 7 p.m. at New Jerusalem Institutional Baptist Church, located at 3022 S. Beckley Avenue. Delta’s Omega-Omega Service will occur before the wake Friday at 6:30 p.m. The Celebration of Life funeral services will be at New Jerusalem Institutional Baptist Church starting at 11 a.m. this Saturday, August 23.
