Minnie Lea Thomas-Payne's Obituary
Minnie Thomas is the Founder/Executive Director of the Solid Foundation Mandela Hose Programs. She opened the doors to Solid Foundation in 1987. She was a Pioneer and the first Black Women in creating the first program that allowed women to live with their child while healing from their addiction in a warm homelike nurturing environment.
She had been in this type of business for over 30 years. First starting at The Seven Step Program for men and then later promoted to Program Manager of the Seven Step Women program, which lead to the creation of the Solid Foundation Mandela House Programs, which was originally funded by the Zellerbach Family Fund of San Francisco, California. They allowed her to travel and view other programs and to design the type of program that she felt was necessary for the wellbeing of children.
After she completed her travels all across the country, she decided that in order to save the babies you must also find a way to heal that substance abusing mom. Children don’t care what their moms are doing or how they are living, all they know is that they wanted their mom. Minnie decided that she would do everything in her power, if it is God willing, children will have their biological mom. She was disturbed that there were so many children in foster care!
She dedicated her life to restructuring the thought patterns of these substances abusing women. She began teaching them to stand on their own two feet and be proud of it by putting back in place the integrity of women towards their children, which is the laws of good parenting skills, the ability to take responsibility for their actions and last but not least, “Time Management”. Because without the ability to manage your time you will not succeed in life. Her motto: In order for me to save the babies, I got to help the moms too!
She had received over 100 awards exemplifying her commitment in creating a better society for our children(just to name a few)
•Robert Wertzel Award by the California State Senate and Legislature
•The State Advisory Board on Alcohol and Drug Related Programs
•Highland Hospital Commendation
•The Joint Rules Committee of the California Senate and Assembly Community Service Awards
•Women of the Year, two years in a row by the California State Legislature
•Certificate of Special Recognition by Maxine Waters, Members of Congress
•She has served as a Commissioner of the Health and Human Services Agency
•Certificate of Recognition by Barbara Lee, Members of the Assembly
•Commended by the Joint Rules Committee of the State Senate and the Assembly (2nd time)
•California Exemplary Prevention Program Award by the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs
•She has a classroom in Santa Rita with her name “Minnie Thomas” on the door
•She was on 60 Minutes with Ed Bradley
•And later contacted by Oprah Winfrey to attend one of her shows but was unable to attend due to one of her ladies going into labor
What’s your fondest memory of Minnie?
What’s a lesson you learned from Minnie?
Share a story where Minnie's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Minnie you’ll never forget.
How did Minnie make you smile?