One of five children,[7] Stanis was born and raised in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, New York City.

[13] Stanis played the role of Thelma Ann Evans on the CBS sitcom Good Times from February 1974 to August 1979.

She and former co-star Jimmie Walker lent their voices to a radio spot for AT&T,[citation needed] and Stanis went on to do a Nationwide Insurance commercial.

[citation needed] Stanis has been featured in promotions for the TV One network,[citation needed] and in a "Thelma" promotion that aired September 19, 2009, alongside actress Anna Maria Horsford in the "Battle of the Thelmas" that aired their weddings from their respective TV series.

Her first marriage was to high-school sweetheart Thomas Fauntleroy from June 1974 until 1978,[15][16] then to Brooklyn nightclub owner Darnell Johnson in January 1979.