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By:  Tammye Pettyjohn Jones

The Americus Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated hosted an epic Celebration of Women on Saturday, February 1, 2020 in the beautiful Georgia Southwestern State University Fine Arts Theatre in Americus, Georgia.

As this organization of over 300,000 women across the globe celebrated their 107^th  Founders Day Celebration Event and 30^th Chapter Anniversary, they were greeted by several leadership dignitaries, who came bearing celebratory gifts.   Dr. Neal Weaver, President of GSW State University, shared the University’s vision and student demographics indicating a significant display of talent and academic excellence by the African American female students. He presented two coins as an act of gratitude to U.S. Representative Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. and Dr. Louise A. Rice, the 23^rd National President of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.  Delta has a collegiate chapter, Theta Sigma, on campus at GSW State University.

A featured performance was rendered by the Americus Sumter High School Chorus and an energizing selection by Ms. Angie Gardner, Principal of Commodore Conyers College & Career Academy and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Albany Alumnae Chapter.  Greetings were shared by Mayor James Cutts, City of Desoto and Chairman Mickey George, Macon County Board of Commissioners.  Mayor Barry Blount presented a proclamation on behalf of the City of Americus while State Representative Mike Cheokas, HD-138, presented a statewide recognition on behalf of the Georgia State Assembly. Additional attendees included Chairman Tony Kennedy, Webster County Board of Commissioners, Chairman Clay Jones, Sumter County Board of Commissioners, Mayor Eddie D. Hill, City of Andersonville, Americus Councilwoman Juanita Wilson, CEO George Edge, Americus Housing Authority, Americus City Manager Charles Coney, Macon County Manager Regina McDuffie, Bobby Fuse, South Georgia Voters League, Director Jessica Sinclair, Sumter County Family Connections, and Director Nicole Howell, Macon County Family Connections.

This event was a Celebration of Phenomenal Women to include the Americus Alumnae Chapter Eighteen Charter members, receiving a new chapter to serve Sumter, Dooly, Terrell, Webster, Macon, and Lee Counties on March 10, 1990. The officiating officers were Dr. Louise A. Rice and the late Dr. Anne Stroud (Albany Alumnae Chapter).  The fifteen surviving charter members were beautifully draped in satin and elegant Delta regalia by Geraldine West Hudley, Dougherty County Schools Board of Education member and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Albany Alumnae Chapter, Dr. Lillie Ward, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Fort Valley Alumnae Chapter, and Alice Green, Sumter County Schools Board of Education member and Americus Alumnae Chapter.   The Charter members are:  Annita Carter Barron, Anna H. Bryant Davis, Betty Harris, Dr. Oneida Ingram, Brenda Hill Jackson, Dr. Sharon Champion Jackson, Rena Canady Laster, Dr. Shirley Latimore, Brenda K. Mansfield, Eloise R. Paschal, Linda Dowdell-Pope, Erma Wilson Robinson, Cotellia Solomon Stewart, and Lydia McCoy Walker.  A moment of silence was rendered to deceased charter members The Honorable County Commissioner Andrea Fuse Brooks, Florence Hines Brown, and Hazel Humphries Williams.

 

Ten “Women in Sports Achievers” from multicounty service areas were honored with Outstanding Achievement Medallions:

Sherri Harris, Lashaunda Renee Thomas, and Alicia Green all of Sumter County Schools, Tammye Ware, Terrell County Schools, Diana Thomas and Lesley Hill both of Webster County Schools, Alysia Law and Lametria Rackley-Crawford both of Macon County Schools, Kristen Anderson and Minnie Harper both Dooly County Schools.

 

Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. has championed social justice for over 107 years. The guest speaker, Dr. Louise Rice challenged the audience to get moving because we are long overdue in making a difference in our communities to improve the quality of life for our citizens.  She quoted the lyrics to a song written in the 70’s by the late Marvin Gaye entitled “What’s Going On” noting that the conditions and issues are still the same.  Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. provided remarks about the six dynamic Deltas in the 116^th Congress as well as his mother who was a charter member of the Mobile Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.  The Congressman shared the importance of participating in the 2020 Decennial Census count beginning April 1^st.  He presented Congressional Special Recognitions to Dr. Louise Rice and Dr. Oneida Ingram on behalf of 700,000 constituents in the 2^nd Congressional District of Georgia.

Immediately following the event, The Panther High School “Get Out The Vote & Count” students and The Canes “Get Out The Vote & Count” students distributed Census readiness materials and bottled water to compel everyone to BE COUNTED!     Thanks to everyone who attended and supported this celebration.

 

Submitted by Tammye Pettyjohn Jones, Tpettyjohjones@att.net (229) 938-0278 or (229) 809-4010

For more information, contact Dr. Oneida Ingram at ingramoneida@yahoo.com or

229-942-7040.