Thelma Lois Sully was born on December 14, 1925, in Greenwood, Charles Mix County, South Dakota, on the Yankton Indian Reservation to Cora May Quinn and John C.

[5] Sully grew up on the Yankton reservation and attended the Saint Paul Indian Children's School in Marty, South Dakota, with her siblings.

She helped them with obtaining identification cards, high school equivalency certificates and began a clothing drive to provide them with basic necessities.

Eager to establish a focal point for the urban Indigenous population, in 1977, she and others, sold fishing bait to stores to raise enough money to pay rent on a building on South High Street.

[17] The center provided food, clothing, and household items to members of the Native American community,[19] as well as emergency, counseling and employment referral services across metro Columbus and it sponsored cultural events.

[17] Beginning in 1984, she organized fund-raising drives each May and September, through cultural events like pow wows to cover the operational costs.

[17][20] She also gave lectures to churches and other local groups to raise awareness of Native cultures[21] and arranged for Asa Primeaux, Sam Necklace's grandson, to serve as the spiritual advisor of the center.

[24] Ray agreed to alter the text of the bill to make it clear that it did "not apply to Indian burial remains".