History

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated is an organization of college educated women committed to the constructive development of its members and to public service with a primary focus on the Black community.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated is a private, not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world. Since its founding more than 300,000 women have joined the organization. The organization is a sisterhood of predominantly Black, college educated women. The sorority currently has 1,000 collegiate and alumnae chapters located in the United States, Canada, Japan (Tokyo and Okinawa), Germany, the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica, the Republic of Korea, the Arabian Gulf, Southern Africa and West Africa.

The major programs of the Sorority are based upon the organization’s Five-Point Programmatic Thrust:

• Economic Development
• Educational Development
• International Awareness and Involvement
• Physical and Mental Health
• Political Awareness and Involvement

For more information, visit our national website at www.deltasigmatheta.org.

FOUNDERS

Kinston Alumnae Chapter

On February 28, 1959, twenty women of vision met at Dobb’s Training School, a state supported school for troubled, young black girls, to organize a chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. The charter members would strive to emulate the goals and visions created by the twenty-two dynamic undergraduate women who founded the sorority in 1913 at Howard University. The women worked hard and planned for the day when Jennie Taylor, Regional Director, would present their Charter. They were elated to realize their dreams had come true as they united with hundreds of chapters across the nation to promote the ideals and principles of Delta. Thus, on February 28, 1959, the Kinston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was established. The group’s mission was to provide services and programs to promote human welfare. The first president was Eloise Crowder Beech. The chapter held its first Jabberwock in 1960 to raise funds to support various community projects.

Three of the charter members, Jeanette Cogdell, Dorothy McFalls and Esther C. Parker, continue to provide enthusiasm, leadership and wisdom to the Kinston Alumnae Chapter. These ladies, in addition to Angela Abbott Daughety, Marva Brown, Joyce Bryant, Jonelle Davis, Charetta T. Harrington, Delcia Ward, and Kareen Windley share the distinction of “50 Plus Years of Service.”

The “Torch” continues to be held high, as the National goals of our Sorority remain at the forefront of sisterhood, scholarship, service, and program planning and development.

Charter Members:

Officers

Members

Surviving Soror *