More than 90 members of the Savannah Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., attended the 51st National Convention in Washington, DC, in July, one of the major events celebrated by the Sorority during it’s Centennial year. The Sorority was founded January 13, 1913 by 22 female collegiates at Howard University in Washington. Members from throughout the United States and around the world, in numbers exceeding 46,000 (and painting the city in red and white), came to the Capitol City where it has been acclaimed that this convention was the largest on record hosted in the City. Events of significance included the meeting in the Oval Office with President Barack Obama attended by DST National President, Cynthia Butler McIntyre, the Executive Board, and Past National Presidents of the Sorority; the dedication of Delta Sigma Theta Way (at 1700 New Hampshire Avenue); and the dedication of Fortitude Plaza and a stained glass window in honor of the Founders at the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel – both on the Howard University Campus. Keynote speakers included U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Former U. S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and the Reverend Dr. Bernice A. King; as well as special greetings from Former President Bill Clinton and Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives among other distinguished civic leaders and elected officials.
Savannah Alumnae’s 50-plus members were hon- ored at the Southern Region’s Sisterhood Luncheon, and those present to receive recognition included Bettye Berksteiner, Sherbie Adams, Gladys Lambert, Anna Watson, Frankie Washington, Marguerite Birt, and Pearl Reddick. Lytia Petrean and Robert A. Williams were representatives from our youth programs, Delta GEMS and EBONI, who were selected to participate in the Presidential Academy at the Convention.
Six Honorary Members were inducted into the Sorority. They are Paula Mason, WNBA LA Sparks & African Channel Owner; Rev. Suzan D. Johnson, US Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom; Angela Bassett, Actress; Susan Taylor, Founder, National Cares Mentoring Movement and former Editor, Essence Magazine; Lisa Jackson, Apple Executive & Former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator; and Dr. Tererari Trent, Zimbabwean Scholar & Founder of The Tinogona Foundation.
Each of the seven (7) surviving National Presidents were in attendance, and after presiding through a successful and memorable year-long Centennial Celebration, Cynthia M.A. Butler-McIntyre, 24th National President, passed the torch to the newly elected 25th National President, Dr. Paulette C.Walker of Tampa, FL. Convention Delegates were Grayzel Ellison, president of the Savannah Alumnae Chapter; Gabrielle Whisenton, newly elected president of Delta Nu Chapter at Savannah State University, who was recently appointed South Georgia State Facilitator for the Southern Region for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; and Alethia Harrison, newly elected president of Tau Alpha Chapter at Armstrong Atlantic State University .
Pictured at Top Left: L-R: Terri Mobley, Vera Johnson, Janice Harris, Tonia Reynolds, Jenene Brown Pictured at Top Right: Alums of Delta Nu Chapter, Savannah State University