Greenville-Manchester Area Alumnae Chapter
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
History of Greenville-Manchester Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.
It was a passionate dream of Mrs. Gladys Almeta McDaniels Spencer for a long time to see a prestigious organization that involved the wonderful women of Meriwether County and the surrounding area. These women had so much to offer and no appropriate channel through which to render needed leadership and services. Since there were no sororities in Meriwether County, a survey was conducted to determine a choice in sorority interests. It was rewarding when the results showed that overwhelming interests lay with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Mrs. Spencer received guidance from Mrs. Anna Stroud, Southern Regional Director at that time. With no known Deltas in Meriwether County, Mrs. Spencer was guided to approach Columbus Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. to request their assistance in the establishment of a chapter in the Meriwether County area. The request was granted with the stipulation that the Meriwether County women would be initiated into the Columbus Alumnae Chapter as a group, and later apply for a charter. The search began for eleven college degreed women whose talents, services, character, and scholastic abilities portrayed the qualities that Delta Sigma Theta Sorority mandated for its membership.
As a result of the search, the following women answered the call: Cecelia Dock Dean, Mollie Hill Dunn, Annie Lucille Tarver Greene, Brenda Reeves Hudson, Carolyn Martin Jackson, Laura Johnson, Wessie B. Lamar, Zephorine Lamar, Willie Mae Parks, Gladys Almeta McDaniels Spencer, Annetras Dock Tolliver, Sandra M. Thompson, and Anne Banning Warrior. This group traveled to Columbus on a Sunday early in June of 1976 to meet with Veola Hymes, President of Columbus Alumnae and Joyce Gosha, Chair of Membership Committee, as well as other members of that committee.
Frequent study sessions and other activities followed. After a specified time, the group was initiated into the Columbus Alumnae Chapter on Sunday, August 29, 1976. The sorors remained affiliated with the Columbus Alumnae Chapter for a year. Early in 1977 the group applied for a charter to form a chapter in Meriwether County. They operated under the name “Greenville-Manchester Area Alumnae Deltas”
This chapter was chartered during the administration of National President Thelma T. Daley. At that time Soror Yvonne Kennedy, was our Southern Regional Director and she administered the Chapter Charter. On March 4, 1978, Southern Regional Director Yvonne Kennedy conducted the Chartering Service at the Holiday Inn in Newnan, Georgia. Chartered members were: Cecelia Dock Dean, Mollie Hill Dunn, Annie Lucille Tarver Greene, Brenda Reeves Hudson, Carolyn Martin Jackson, Laura Johnson, Wessie B. Lamar, Willie Mae Parks, Gladys Almeta McDaniels Spencer, Annetras Dock Tolliver, Sandra M. Thompson, and Anne Banning Warrior.