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Pi Delta Omega Chapter
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
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After many years of living in the Miami area and inactivation with their beloved Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Sorors Joan Timmons and Shirley James faced each other and decided to do something about their situation. They talked with other sorors and began gathering the names of sorors living in the South Dade area. In April 1985, they allied with sorors Alethea Fryar, Ruthie Pittman, Margaret Polite and Elizabeth Collins.
Between April and June 1985, fourteen additional sorors: Virginia Adger, Gloria Alexander, Addie Anderson, Sue Baety, Barbara Benton, Eva Harris Cofield, Laura Collier, *Carmelita Davis, Mary Floyd, LaFreida Hudson Grandberry, Rosbin lvery, Roslyn Jennings, Bettye Mears and Eleanor Wheeler, united with the core group. Soror Rosbin lvery was chosen as the chartering chairwoman and Soror Sue Baety as the program chairwoman. By the end of July, activities were well underway to not only demonstrate a need for a second chapter in the Greater Miami area but to also comply with requirements for chartering.
The sorors chose the name “The Twenty Pearls Interest Group” and selected officers: Joan Timmons, president; Shirley James, vice president; *Margaret Polite, recording secretary; LaFreida Hudson Grandberry, corresponding secretary; Alethea Fryar, treasurer; Ruthie Pittman, financial secretary; Elizabeth Collins, public relations; Eva Harris Cofield, historian; and Barbara Benton, chaplain.
Five additional sorors, Shirley Barbee, Valerie Carter, Priscilla Dames, Alexandria Holloway and Jackie McCollum, re-activated and joined The Twenty Pearls Interest Group in the fall of 1985. With twenty-five reactivated sorors, the interest group moved quickly to complete all requirements for chartering. Several sorors chaired committees to enhance the presence of Alpha Kappa Alpha in the area: Virginia Adger, Sickle Cell Committee; Roslyn Jennings, special activities; Gloria Alexander, tutorial committee; and Eleanor Wheeler, Scrapbook Committee. *Soror Mamie Williams willingly assisted the interest group with their many questions and concerns.
On February 8, 1986, the new chapter was chartered at The Kings Bay Yacht and Country Club. The South Atlantic Regional Director, Soror Mary Shy Scott, presented Pi Delta Omega to the audience of sorors, family members and the South Dade Community. Since that winter day, ten sorors have served as Basileus: Joan Timmons, Rosbin Ivery, Sue Baety, Alexandria Holloway, Bettye Mears, Ossie Hollis, Eva Harris Cofield, Carol A. Deliford, Elsie King Hamler and Mable Clarington. Soror Cheryl Mattox Berry is the current Basileus.
In 1992, Soror Frederica S. Wilson, South Atlantic Regional Director, appointed Pi Delta Omega as the graduate chapter for Iota Nu at the University of Miami. Soror Sue Baety served as the first graduate advisor, followed by Soror Leslie Scott, Soror Rosbin Ivery and Soror Barbara Dent. Soror Eleanor (Wheeler) Chamberlain presently serves as the graduate advisor.
The chapter has been named as a benefactor in the volunteer category for Dade County Public Schools, adopted a Women’s Cooperative African Village, provided assistance to several local families and senior citizens. Pi Delta Omega has also initiated cultural arts programs by showcasing the works of local artists in conjunction with Miami Dade College; presented Little Miss Fashionetta contests for fourth and fifth grade girls; sponsored a mentoring program for high school girls; conducted after-school tutorial programs at more than ten elementary and middle schools; participated in voter registration drives; and donated to blood drives, the Red Cross, March of Dimes, Lupus Foundation, and the University of Miami Breast Center.
On a regional level, Soror Alexandria Holloway and Soror Eva Harris Cofield have served as Cluster I Coordinator. Soror Cofield has also served on the Nominating Committee. The chapter has participated in AKA Day at the Capitol in Tallahassee and has Doctoral status with the sorority’s Educational Advancement Foundation. The chapter served as host chapter for Cluster I Conference in 1989 with Soror Rosbin Ivery as Cluster chairwoman and in 1999 with Soror Ossie Hollis as the Cluster chairwoman. Sorors Francis Washington and Jacqueline Porter prepared the regional quilt presented at the 2000 Boule in Dallas, Texas.
Pi Delta Omega has provided more than $70,000 in scholarships to students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities, more than $15,000 to the United Negro College Fund, approximately $10,000 to the local Sickle Cell Foundation, and more than $5,000 to Miami Bridge, a shelter for youth. The chapter also makes significant contributions to local churches, school dance troupes, high school service groups, March of Dimes, Lupus Foundation, the 5,000 Role Models Program and many others.
The chapter has conducted six initiations: 1987 ~ Barbara Campbell, Carol A. Deliford, Vernetta Edgecomb, Carla Forbes, Gloria Fuller, Sheila Harvey, Helen Hill, Myra Killins, Cenito King, Paulette Martin, Earnestine Perkins, Shirley Thomas, Geraldine Townsend, and Fredericka Wanza; 1990 ~ *Earlene Bullard, Victoria Champion, Terri Giles, Tanya Hamilton, Pamela McCoy, Martha Hughes, Florence Joseph, Georgia McLean, Lisa Woodson, Myrtle Wooton and Bettye Young; 1993 ~ Verbena Cummings, Lisa Cryer, Karla Ellis, Sheryl Huston, Gloria Littlefield, Crystal Norment and Oleatha Poole June 1995 ~ Rochelle Adger, Janice Barrett, Jo Ann Byrd, Anitris Clarington, Karen Hawkins, Trayce Jackson, Jacqueline Porter, *Doris Taylor, Mary Walker and Miriam Williams; February 1999 ~ Karen Bentley, Joyce Crawford-Martinez, Tonya Hill, Sherry Jones, Emira Lymon, Georgia Shaw, Mitzi Parlor, Joi Taylor and Rachelle Thompkins (Surrancy) and in September 2003 ~ Toni Bowen-McDuffey, Shamara Byrd, Shakita Chester, Cynthia Cooper, Melinda Davis, Sabrina Hicks, Kelli Hunter, Kai Jennings, Joycelyn McAdory, Marvelle McIntyre-Hall, Tara Turner, Calondria Williams and Rosa Wright.
The chapter has seven Golden sorors: Virginia Adger, Alice Bryant, Alethea Fryar, Margaret Green, Ossie Hollis, Ruthie Pittman and Mary Wooten.
Pi Delta Omega’s Silver Stars are Mayola Ellis, Alexandria Holloway, Rosbin Ivery, Juliet King, Elsie King Hamler, Eleanor Chamberlain, Mary Floyd, Eva Harris Cofield, Priscilla Dames, Cheryl Mattox Berry, Ernestine Carr, Roslyn Jennings, Phyllis Tyler, Shawna Cleveland, Teresa Brown, Barbara Dent and Ann Pope.
Life Members are Virginia Adger, Alice Bryant, Ernestine Carr, Shawna Cleveland, Eva Harris Cofield, Mayola Ellis, Alethea Fryar, Elsie King Hamler, Ossie Hollis, Rosbin Ivery, Juliet King, Ruthie Pittman and Mary Wooten.
*Ivy Beyond the Wall |
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