Chapter History

Charter Members

The Atlanta Suburban Alumnae Chapter Story

“Twenty-two young women gave us something more than an organization; they planned it to be a sisterhood. Friends love us at all times, sisters are made for adversity.” Dorothy I. Height

In 1991, Atlanta was a large and growing metropolitan city with several Delta Sigma Theta alumnae chapters already in existence. Even with four chapters in the city, there were still many Deltas who were not active and soon the idea of a new chapter was introduced. The inquiries and questions began almost immediately. Why was another chapter necessary? What obstacles would it have to overcome? What were the benefits of chartering yet another chapter? Three sorors, Gladyce Dawson, Juanita Eber and Anne Lawton, gathered to examine and provide answers to these questions. Reclamation was one of the resounding responses coming from the new group. Guided by passion, purpose and principles, they would focus on reclaiming those who were disheartened and discouraged. Reclamation would be the fuel and sisterhood would be the fire of the new chapter. The three sorors began an active grass roots campaign to invite sorors interested in embracing change with courageous leadership. Several months later, the core group of three grew to eight when Sorors Vivian Brown, Mary C. Ford, Merle A. Franklin, Ruby Riley and Beulah Stafford joined the group. That same year the group began its official communication with Grand Chapter by drafting a letter requesting information to charter a new chapter in Atlanta.

The eight sorors spent the next year and a half organizing, documenting and selectively inviting women to join this historic effort. In 1993, as the numbers swelled to 74, the charter group was just a few months away from being the fifth alumnae chapter in Metropolitan Atlanta. And, on April 24, 1993 the Atlanta Suburban Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was chartered at Fort McPherson with 73 members present, a charter member; Soror Ina M. Martin was included posthumously.

Charter Members

Irene S. Adams

Bernice V. Anderson

Shirley B. Ashley

Blanche R. Augustine

Jacqueline A. Ballantine

Carol D. Barefield

Helen R. Bellamy

Gretchen B. Bess

Barbara C. Bilberry

Virginia A. Brown

Vivian W. Brown

Frances W. Bryant

Gloria W. Butler

Constance G. Byrom

Patsy V. Chambers

Carolyn Clark

Frances Cook

Ora Hill Cook

France M. Culpepper

Gladyce E. Dawson

Audrey A. Dixon

Juanita M. Eber

Emma Elder

Mary C. Ford

Merle A. Franklin

Ruby H. Gannaway

Margo L. Gentry

Patricia H. Guillory

Karen P. Crenshaw Hill

Carolyn Clark Huff

Josephine W. Jackson

Linda C. Johnson

Freda B. Jones

Anne M. Lawton

Fleda R. Little

Beverly L. Isom

Ina M. Martin*

June T. Martin

Anne M. Lawton

Fleda R. Little

Ina M. Martin*

June T. Martin

Betty Snype McNair

Yvonne M. McNeil

Shedricka V. Miller

Shirle Miller Walton

Trudy R. Miller

J. Louise Morse

Nelta Morton

Ida Rousseau Mukenge

Teloca Murdock-Sistrunk

Brenda D. Oliver

Narvie H. Puls

Dilcie S. Ragsdale

Ethel T. Rice

Deborah A. Schwapp

Betty F. Scott

Lawana J. Sermons

Patricia C. Stanford

Beulah B. Stafford

Emelda M. Stevens

SeQucia Pierre Story

Joanna F. Sutton

Angela Sutton

Clara M. Taylor

Dorothy L. Taylor

Cheryl H. Thomas

Margaret M. Thurman

Eloise W. Tolbert

Marilyn B. Udeh

Phyllis D. Waddell

Mary J. Ward

June S. Wardlaw

Dorothy A. Warren

Evelyn M. Williams

Sandra P. Williams

Dorothy H. Willoughby

Juanita Yancey

*Posthumously

For Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. History Click Here