Renée McMillan was born in Brooklyn, New York. As a child, she was adopted and decades later, Renee was reunited with her biological family which brought her a great sense of joy and fulfillment.

She was a product of the New York City School System and would not hesitate to tell you that she was from Brooklyn, more specifically, “Do or Die Bed-Stuy” which signified the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn.

Highly educated

Renée was highly educated and every facet of the word excellence.

She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Office Management and Supervision from Buffalo State University, an Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Georgian Court University, and a Master of Arts in Education from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Career

She started her career as an Accounts Payable Bookkeeper for the Gamma Liaison Photo Agency in NYC. After that, she served as a Sales Representative for Nabisco before entering her calling: the field of Education.

Renee McMillan as an educator

Renée worked many years in the Asbury Park and Neptune Public School systems before finishing up her career as Vice Principal, at the School of Architecture, Construction, and Trades at John F. Kennedy High School in Paterson, New Jersey. She had a passion for education and spent countless summers tutoring students in math. Renée received great satisfaction in inspiring her students to set goals and understand their purpose for their lives.

Real estate

After retiring from the Paterson Board of Education, Renée worked as a Real Estate Agent at Keller Williams Realty.

Renée McMillan served the community

She continued her service by being actively involved in the community. She held positions as Director of Neptune Township Biddy Basketball, a humble servant in the Women’s Ministry at St. Stephen AME Zion Church in Asbury Park, New Jersey, a former County Committee Member for District 10 in Neptune, a member of The PAC Program at Monmouth University, and also coordinated the GOTV activities for local, state, and national campaigns which provided the youth of Neptune with employment during the political season.

Renée’s hobbies were cooking and reading. She became well-known for her culinary and baking skills, extending her love towards others with her incredible gift.

Her legacy will live on forever

Renée leaves to mourn her memory to her loving and dedicated husband, her beloved children, two daughters and one son, her precious grandchildren, one girl and boy, a devoted and caring godmother, god sister and godbrother, godson and goddaughter, two doting sisters, three adoring brothers, two special brothers-in-law, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives as well as a countless number of friends and colleagues.

Renée was loved by the Unheard Voices community and she sorely be missed.

Visit James Hunt Funeral Home to read Renee McMillan’s obituary in full.

In the first trailer for the upcoming Netflix movie Shirley, Regina King stars as the first Black woman to be elected to Congress.

Regina King as Shirley Chisholm

Chisholm’s story will be chronicled, showing her uphill battle and obstacles to win a seat in Congress as the daughter of a Barbados-born maid and a Guyanese laborer, her struggles to navigate Congress alongside her White male colleagues, and her groundbreaking 1972 presidential campaign.

Movie production

Produced by Regina King and her sister Reina King, Shirley also stars the late Lance Reddick, Lucas Hedges, Terrence Howard, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Christina Jackson and more.

King, who spent 15 years producing the film, said the project was an incredible feat.

“It was always a little disheartening for Reina and I to have so many people over the years of our lives not know who Shirley Chisholm was,” King told Harper’s Bazaar.

“What she did was so pioneering. She was a true maverick and, you know, we use this term all the time, but she was a true first.”

King said they decided to release the film during an election year as they thought it would make for a more “impactful” release.

“As a team, we felt that is probably the best way we could possibly honor Shirley: to release her in a space that she created for herself.”

Regina King as Shirley Chisholm trailer

Shirley is will be released on Netflix March 22.

Carl Weathers, the iconic actor best known as Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” movie series, has died.

He was 76.

Details on Carl Weathers

According to his family, Weathers died peacefully in his sleep Thursday.

“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Carl Weathers,” according to the family statement.

“Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life.”

“Through his contributions to film, television, the arts and sports, he has left an indelible mark and is recognized worldwide and across generations,” his family said.

“He was a beloved brother, father, grandfather, partner, and friend.”

Acting career

Weathers got his big acting break in 1976, when he landed the role of heavyweight boxing champion Apollo Creed in “Rocky,” according to his bio on IMDb.

The New Orleans-born actor played this role in three other “Rocky” movies.

Weathers also starred in 1987’s “Predator,” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, in Adam Sandler’s “Happy Gilmore” in 1996 and on the small screen in “The Mandalorian.”

He also was the voice for Combat Carl in “Toy Story 4” and other shorts in the Disney-Pixar franchise.

He dabbed into comedy, playing himself in the sitcom “Arrested Development.” Other TV acting credits include “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Magnum P.I.” and “Chicago P.D.”

Weathers attended San Diego State University where he studied theater and played football.

He then played professionally for the Oakland Raiders until he retired in 1974 to seriously pursue acting, according to his bio.

He was nominated for an Emmy in 2021 for Outstanding Guest Actor for the re-occurring role as Greef Karga in “The Mandalorian.”