Bern Nadette Stanis
JACKSON, MI – Bern Nadette Stanis, better known as Thelma Evans from "Good Times," will be the keynote speaker at Jackson Community College's annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration Jan. 19.
Stanis, 58, played the strong-willed Thelma, the middle child of the Evans family, on critically acclaimed “Good Times” (1974-79), the first sitcom to center around an African American family. Stanis, Jimmie Walker, who played J.J., Ralph Carter (Michael) and Ja’net DuBois (neighbor Willona Woods) were the only cast members to appear in 133 episodes.
Stanis went on to appear on “The Love Boat,” “The Cosby Show,” “The Wayans Bros.” and “The Parent ‘Hood” during the 1980s and 1990s. She’s also authored the two-book “Situations 101” series, which deals with relationships and finances, as well as “For Men Only,” a book of poetry, and is active in promoting Alzheimer’s Disease awareness. Stanis’ mother is a victim of the disease.
Tickets for the celebration, which will be at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Robert Snyder Commons in the Potter Center, 2111 Emmons Road, will be $22 for general admission and $18 for students and seniors. Call the Potter Center box office at 517 796-8600 or visit jccmi.edu/events.