AKAs celebrate 108 years of service

AKAs celebrate 108 years of service

Founders Day gathering recognizes community, member leaders

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority

The local Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Pi Chi Omega Chapter of West Memphis celebrated the organization's 108th International Founders' Day recently at Bethel A. M. E.

Church. Over 150 guests attended the event making it one of the largest crowd ever attending a chapter’s Founders’ Day program.

The theme for the program was 'New Dimensions of Service Through Community Service.” The guest speaker was Dr. Andrea Lewis Miller, President of LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis, Tennessee, and also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

The Mistress of Ceremony was Dr. Daphne Jones of West Memphis, an Instructor at South Wind High School and also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Phi Lambda Omega Chapter, Memphis, Tennessee.

The program highlighted and paid special tribute to twenty-five (25) pioneers in the community, (7 couples and 11 widows and widowers) all age 80 and above, for their outstanding service to the community over the years in the West Memphis and Crittenden County Area. They ranged in age from 80 to 98. All were present to accept the award plaque that was presented to them. The Chapter hosted a special reception for the honorees and guests following the program. The honorees were Mrs. Berry Brown, Mrs. Julia Sample Brown, Mrs. Dorothy Harper, Mrs. Evelyn Hood, Mrs. Jessie M. Maples, Mrs. Ethel Pratt, Mrs. Ruth Person Thomas, Mrs. Marcella Turner, Mrs. Elzadia Washington, Mr. Willie Bruce, Mr. Edrick Williams, Mr. & Mrs.

Solon and Eleanor Anthony, Mr. & Mrs. Leo and Christine Chitman, Mr. & Mrs. Jesse and Gertrude Cooper, Mr. & Mrs. Scott and Viola Hamilton, Rev. & Mrs. S. J. and Aressa Parker, Mr. & Mrs. Arzell and Ruthie Robins, and Dr.

& Mrs. John and Mary Ross. The Chapter also gave a special tribute and honor to the golden mem- bers who have 55 years of service to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Mrs.

Shirley Patton Brown, Mrs.

Clara Barr Ferron, and Dr.

Marian Barr. The Founders’ Day Committee consisted of Mrs. Demetra White, Chairman; Mrs. Carolyn Anthony, Mrs. Shirley Patton Brown, Mrs. Thelma Cannon Davis, Mrs. Clara Barr Ferron, Mrs. Claudie Forrest, Mrs. Gwendolyn Freeman, Mrs. Shirley Higgins, Ms. Cherith Kesha

Minnis, Mrs. Bobbie Owens Nelson, Mrs. Patricia Turner, and Ms. Christine

Watson. The local chapter President is Mrs.

Emma Milliner Robinson.

By Emma Robinson