In the spring of 1942, in Detroit, MI, a group of Lewis Business College students were approached by Ann Porter, then registrar of the College and Girl Friday to the President of the College, about setting up a sorority. The students were delighted with the idea. When the eleven interested women graduated from Lewis Business College they met in Merry Green Hubbard's apartment, 381 Holbrook Street, Detroit, MI to organize Eta Phi Beta Sorority in September 1942. These eleven women were Ann Porter, Merry Green Hubbard, Earline Carter, Mae Edwards Curry, Ethel Madison, Dorothy Sylvers Brown, Mattie Rankin, Lena Reed, Katherine Rivers Douglas, Atheline Shelton and Ivy Burt. The first elected officers in 1942 were all founders.
Membership
From this small band of eleven women, the membership has increased to more than 3000 women with chapters in 50 cities of the continental United States and the Virgin Islands. Members of this noble sorority are actively engaged in a variety of the business concerns and professions. In addition, members belong to other Pan Hellenic and Civic organizations. Many of the members hold prominent and responsible positions in the American mainstream of business and professional careers. Members are Ritual, Associate or Honorary. This organization is an affiliate of the National Council of Negro Women and the National Council of Retarded Citizens.
Purpose
- To promote and create congenial fellowship among business women.
- To work for the welfare of business and professional women.
- To improve the standards of business.
- To assist in obtaining for women the opportunity for the highest standards in all business fields.
- To aid high school graduates by awarding scholarships (local and national) to further their education in business and professional fields.
A HISTORY OF DELTA KAPPA CHAPTER - SOUTHERN REGION
Delta Kappa Chapter was established on July 25, 1986 in San Antonio, Texas under the sponsor direction of Soror Mildred L. Thornton and the National President Bettye G. Timmons. The first president of Delta Kappa Chapter was Eunice Miller. The chapter’s charter was received under Southern Region Director Therma Davis.
The charter members of the chapter were Sorors Regina Gray, Carol Harper, Barbara Maxey, Eunice Miller, Daisy Roberts, Beatrice Tennessee, Sandra Thomas and Avernell Walker.
Delta Kappa hosted the Southern Region Executive Board Meeting in 1998; the Southern Region Conference in 2005 and 2015; and the Grand Executive Board Meeting in 2012. On November 26, 2011 Soror Melrose Haley was elected 15th Southern Region Director.
A History of Our Chapter Presidents
Soror Eunice Miller 1986-1988
Soror Sandra Thomas 1988-1989
Soror Eunice Miller 1989-1990
Soror Regina Gray 1990-1993
Soror Catherine Mitchell 1993-1994
Soror Melrose Haley 1994-1996;2004-2008; 2016-2018
Soror Anita Freeman 1996-1997
Soror Vill (Vera) Ards 1997-1999
Soror Ada Jackson 1999-2000
Soror Regina Williams 2000-2002
Soror Marilyn Zeigler 2002-2004; 2008-2010 ;2018-2019
Soror Doris Washington 2010-2012
Soror Daisy Richardson 2014-2016
Soror Donna Underwood 2019-2021;2023-Present
Soror Weenonah Chambers 2012-2014;2021-2023
On February 11, 1995, Delta Kappa held its first Annual Scholarship and Black Awareness Luncheon at Fort Sam Houston Officers Club. Past Southern Region Director Bonnie Gates was the guest speaker. On February 25, 2023, Delta Kappa will celebrate its 29th year of hosting the Annual Scholarship/Black Awareness event. Due to the COVID 19 Pandemic, the chapter held virtual scholarship programs/events by ZOOM in February 2020-2023.
At the Southern Region Conference in November 2019 and 2021, Wytantia Gail Walker represented Delta Kappa and was crowned as the Southern Region Honey Doll.
In the past, Delta Kappa participated in several outstanding projects including “Any Baby Can”, an organization that improves life for children and their families; nursing home visits with senior citizens; developed profile booklets which highlight personal, educational, and professional information on each member, and exchanged business cards to facilitate networking to benefit the chapter. Each year Delta Kappa continues to celebrate Founder’s Day with worship at various churches.
As time has moved the Chapter into the twenty-first century, the emphasis of Delta Kappa has changed. With successful women now in the forefront, Delta Kappa has incorporated many new features into the Chapter. The Chapter, and its members, implemented the induction of the Hall of Fame, “Business and Professional Women” as one of its special incentive programs every other year, the Red Shoe Tea to highlight the Founders, Career Development Workshops, and Gloria Chapmon Walk-a-thon for the intellectually and developmentally disabled children of the San Antonio Area. The chapter has participated in “Paint the Parkway Pink” for several years, bringing cancer awareness to the community. The Chapter continues to host the annual scholarship program for high school seniors. In recent years,we have added to our list of projects a Winter Coat Project ,which provides coats to needy children. In 2021, we added a new project of collecting eye glasses which will be converted to usable glasses for the needy. During the pandemic, we still found ways to help the needy. As a Christmas project, we provided a needy family with some needed appliances. The chapter has now added annual donations to SLEW Cancer Wellness Center which provides FREE emotional and Physical support to meet the needs of low income and under-insured women recovering from or battling cancer. Donations are also made to local schools to assist with learning needs for the developmentally disabled students.
Sorors who have served as Southern Region Officers are as follows: Soror Melrose Haley served the Region as Parliamentarian 2005-2008.
Soror Melrose Haley served as Assistant Region Director 2008-2011.
Soror Melrose Haley served as Region Director 2011-2015.
Soror Weenonah Chambers was elected Regional Journalist 2019.
Soror Weenonah Chambers served as Tamias 2015-2019.
Soror Daisy Richardson served as Epistoleus 2011-2015.
Soror Melrose Haley serves as a Regional Advisor.
Southern Region Scholarship:
The scholarship for the Southern Region was named Dr. Melrose Haley Scholarship in 2019.
Soror(s) serving as a National Officer is as follows:
Soror Weenonah Chambers was elected as National Journalist in 2021.
Delta Kappa Youth Group:
Hayden Daniels was elected as 1st Vice President of the National Youth Group in 2021.
“Not For Ourselves, But For Others”
