Althea Belinda Finley

Althea Belinda Finley was born on February 28, 1961, to the proud parents of Maxine Finley and Cubie Finley Jr. in El Dorado, Arkansas. In 1969, her family moved to Northern California.

Althea’s early education was at the West Contra Costa Unified School District. She graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in Richmond, California, in 1978. Althea attended the University of California at Davis, focusing on studies of history and communication.

Althea welcomed her beautiful son, Quincy Peifer, the love of her life, into this world on August 2, 1993. His education was very important to Althea, and she enrolled him at Camellia Waldorf School and later at Sacramento Waldorf High School. Quincy's classmates loved her for her steadfast presence and the beautiful cakes she would bring to the class potlucks.

Althea worked for the California Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA) for over 32 years and rose to be the Director of Professional Relations and Governmental Affairs, writing many columns for their newsletter and communicating with members of governmental affairs affecting the profession. She helped to organize their annual member conference at Disneyland. CPMA members will miss her dearly. For them, she was the heart of the organization. For them, she was a friend, a confidant, and a light that always made things better even on the most stressful days. She didn’t seek the spotlight, but she radiated warmth and strength in everything she did. You could always feel her presence... calm and steady.

Althea was a classic screen buff and loved watching old black and white movies. Her favorite movies of all time were The Godfather and The Godfather 2. She also loved going to movie theaters, watching the latest Disney movies with her son, Quincy, and Twilight movies with her bestie, Lou Ann.

She loved her mother’s collard greens, cornbread, pecan pie, and a yellow cake with decadent Ghirardelli chocolate frosting. She also loved drinking kosher wine and eating matzah ball soup and brisket at many Passover seders she and Quincy attended at Lou Ann and Robert's house.

Althea enjoyed walking her little dog, Emma, on the beautiful grounds of her apartment complex and would sit and stargaze late at night. Heaven welcomed Althea home on October 9, 2025.

She was preceded in death by her father, Cubie Finley Jr; grandmothers, Minnie Ruth Johnson and Agnes Finley; grandfather, Cubie Finley, Sr.; nephew, Tyrell Ramone Finley.

To cherish her life and memories, Althea leaves her son, Quincy Peifer; her mother, Maxine Finley; her sister, Alicia Finley; her brother, Cubie Finley III (Kim Finley); nieces Kiana Muldrow Finley, Aliyah Finley, Jasmyne Armstrong, and Alaysha Finley; aunts, Ruth Green, Carolyn Evans (James); and Gwendolyn Jones; uncles, Artis Johnson (Lillie), Leonard Finley, and Lewis Finley; best friend and extended family Lou Ann Barnett, Robert, Ari and Ellen Schoenfeld and a host of family, friends and colleagues.

If you wish to send flowers in honor of Althea, please contact the family to confirm the location they should be sent to.