Dinika Latrece Thomas Memorial
Dinika was a member of the Rho Xi of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority at Xavier University. We are raising funds to have a tree planted in her memory on campus. We invite you to make a contribution to this project to ensure Dinika’s legacy lives on.
In Memory of Dinika Thomas
Dinika Latrece Thomas was a kind hearted and peaceful spirit with an infectious smile. She graduated from Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH in 1995 with a Bachelor's degree in Information Technology. She was a proud member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and an active member of her community. She participated in area beauty pageants and fashion shows. She had a flair for fashion and often designed her own dresses and branded her own signature style.
When you were around Dinika you were in the presence of peace. She was like a dove…a gentle, kind-hearted spirit. She would comfort you with her soft spoken voice and thoughtful words. She was a hugger and a good listener to those in need. In a room full of people, you might not have heard a peep from Dinika. But, you would know she was there by her faint giggles in the crowd. She had an infectious smile that could light up the room.
April 7, 1993, Dinika and five other Xavier University students became members of the Rho Xi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Our sorority is predominately African American women committed to community service. Our line was called Take 6 and Dinika was bestowed the apropos line name” Optimistic”. She was a proud member of the chapter and continued as an active member of her community.
In 2006, Dinika passed away from asthma leaving behind a son and a daughter, two brothers and a sister, and her father, Cecil Thomas, an Ohio State Senator. Her presence was also missed in our lives.
Those five young women are planning to return to Xavier University with a desire to memorialize Dinika Latrece Thomas by planting a tree on the Xavier University campus.
Bringing Awareness to Asthma
There were 1.6 million emergency department visits with asthma as a primary diagnosis according to the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey of 2018 and 4,145 deaths in 2020 as noted by the National Vital Statistics System. Of the 2,317 asthma related deaths in 2006 Dinika Thomas, was counted among them.
Since we lost her to a fatal asthma attack, part of honoring her is bringing awareness to the number of asthmatics in the United States and a few of the mortality statistics following them. As of 2019, slightly over 25 million or 8 percent of Americans are diagnosed with asthma. Adults die almost five times children. Women are more prone to die from asthma complications than men are, whereas, it is the reverse for girls and boys. Mortality rates reflect asthma deaths disproportionately impact the African American population. The African American population has a probability to die three times more likely than White Americans. African American women die at a rate four times more frequently than White men do. Moreover, African Americans have the propensity to die two to three times from asthma than other racial and ethnic groups.
We, the remaining line sisters of Take 6 are seeking donations to plant a tree to honor and memorialize her as a symbol of our respect, invaluable friendship, shared sisterhood, and love for her. Asthma was the illness that suddenly and unexpectedly took the life of our beloved sorority sister. We hope the few asthma statistics mentioned can bring awareness and may prevent others from losing their loved ones.