Thelma Renee Foote

Thelma Renee Foote who was born Oct. 4, 1956 in Houston, Texas, passed away suddenly on June 27, 2007 in Rome, Italy.
She is preceded in death by her grandfather, Geoffrey Wills Sr.; aunt Alma Faye Morgan; cousin, Johnny Morgan II; and dad, Coach R.L. Posey.
She was confirmed and baptized at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, Lockhart, Texas. She was an active

member of children’s Sunday school, and the Methodist Youth Fellowship. Thelma was educated in the Lockhart public schools, where she attended elementary, junior high and senior high. Thelma Renee’ was enrolled in the College Bound Program and member of the Lockhart Lion Band, member of the girls’ Varsity Volleyball Team, a tutor, and wrote articles in a Scholastic magazine. She attended the Rice University Enrichment Summer Program in 1972-1974. She was named outstanding player on the Lockhart girls’ summer softball team. Thelma Renee’ was selected as a National Achievement Semi-Finalist for Outstanding Students in 1974 and she was listed in the Who’s Who Among American High School Students in 1974 – 1975.
Following graduation from high school, Thelma Renee’ enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in the College of Liberal Arts with a major in American Studies 1979. Thelma Renee’ was admitted to the Graduate School of Arts and Science at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., for study leading to a Ph.D. in History of American Civilization. She graduated with a Ph.D.
Thelma Renee’ moved to New York City, accepting an Associate professorship at New York University 1990-1992. In 1992 she moved to Irvine, Calif., to head the black studies program at the University of California at Irvine from 1992-2004. Thelma Renee’ spent 2004-2006 as a visiting professor at the Southern University of Copenhagen, Denmark. At the time of her death, she resided in Rome, Italy where she was a guest lecturer at the St. John’s University in Rome, Italy. Thelma Renee’ is the author of “Black and White Manhattan” and “The History of Racial Formation in Colonial New York City.” At the time of her death, she was working on her second book: “Production and Communication of Historical Knowledge as Seen in Film and Video.”
Thelma Renee is survived by her mother, Hattie Jewel Posey; grandmother, Eva Mae Wills; sister, Denise Massey; niece, Lindsey; aunts Alice Outley (Freddie) and Evelyn Murphy, uncles Geoffrey Wills Jr. (Dorothy) and Richard Wills, Sr.(Ann); cousins: Carlotta Brown (Jessie), Anthony Wills (Rhonda) their children: Brandon, Austin, Skiler, Delana Mangum (Rodney), their children Maura, Joshua; Richard Wills Jr. children: Alexander, Jordan, Maury Wills, Wilford Wills and family, Christopher Wills, Kenneth North, Patrice Grovey, Dr. Norma P. Sublett, Renee’, Jodi, Clarissa and many special friends and coworkers: Sabrina Ditus, Rania Hammod, Dona Lliespu, Shelly Eversley and many more. The family extends their deepest thanks and appreciation to all of their family, friends and church friends and for the cards, telephone calls and prayers.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, July 28, 2007 at 1 p.m. at the Eeds Funeral Home Chapel in Lockhart, Texas. All arrangements with Eeds Funeral Home 408 South Main, Lockhart, Texas 78644. (512) 398-2343.