Gamma Eta Omega Chapter History
Gamma Eta Omega Chapter was chartered on May 28, 1940. Charter members were sorors Marcella Dumas Huggins, Estelle Anderson Hall, Mary Cornelia Clay, Pinkston Torian, Bertha Elva Harrell Sims, Henri Etta Baranco, Jean Hamilton Walls, and Elsie Lewis Mackel.
The first officers of the chapter were: President, Marcella D. Huggins; Vice-President, Jean H. Walls;
Recording Secretary, Bertha E. H. Sims; Corresponding Secretary Henri Etta Baranco;
Treasurer, Estelle A. Hall; Hostesss, Mary C. P. Torian; and Ivy-Leaf Reporter, Elsie L. Mackel.
During the years 1940-present, the following strong and dedicated sorors served as presidents and effectively guided the program and activities of our sisterhood:
The first officers of the chapter were: President, Marcella D. Huggins; Vice-President, Jean H. Walls;
Recording Secretary, Bertha E. H. Sims; Corresponding Secretary Henri Etta Baranco;
Treasurer, Estelle A. Hall; Hostesss, Mary C. P. Torian; and Ivy-Leaf Reporter, Elsie L. Mackel.
During the years 1940-present, the following strong and dedicated sorors served as presidents and effectively guided the program and activities of our sisterhood:
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Marcella Dumas Huggins (1940-43)
Jean Hamilton Walls (1943-44) Lena Robertson Cooper (1945-46) Earline Cary Williams (1946-47) Laura Scott Taylor (1947-48) Velma Davis Perkins (1948-49) Julia Brogdon Purnell (1949-52) click to view Ida Nance Givens (1952-55) Earline Cary Williams (1955-57) Julia Brogdon Purnell (1957-58) Veraldine Lewis Bernard (1958-59) |
Lesby Solete Banks (1959-63)
Leora Mae Bell (1964-65) Gloria Dix Chapman (1966-67) Ivy Smith Beauregard (1968-69) Emma Dee Jenkins (1970-71) Gloria Jordan Hall (1972) Julia M. Martin (1973-75) Paralee Wafer Byrd (1976-79) Doveal Austin Essex (1980-83) Gloria Dix Chapman (1984-85) Joyce Williams O’Rourke (1986-89) Mildred Robertson Smalley (1990-91) Gloria T. Spooner (1992-95) Sandra Temple Hall (1996-1999) |
Lovenia DeConge Watson (2000-2003)
Beverly Dixon Wade (2004-2007) Desireé Honoré-Thomas (2008-2011) Katina M. Semien (2012-2015) Gwendolyn Jenkins Thomas (2016-2019) Click to view the Former Presidents. Monique M. Edwards (2020-present) |
Gamma Eta Omega graduate chapter is in the South Central Region and sponsors the only 2 undergraduates chapters Beta Psi Chapter at Southern University A&M College and Eta Kappa at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Beta Psi was chartered on the campus of the Southern University A&M College, Baton Rouge in March 1940. Under the supervision of Gamma Eta Omega, Eta Kappa, was chartered on the campus of the Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge in 1972.
Members of the chapter have held both regional and national offices. Foremost is our very active and nationally renowned soror, Julia Brogdon Purnell, who was elected Southeastern Regional Director in 1958 while serving the latter part of a second term as President of Gamma Eta Omega. Immediately following her tenure as Regional Director (1958-62), she was elected and served as Sixteenth Supreme President (1962-66). It was during her office as Supreme President that the nationally acclaimed Cleveland Job Corps was established. Soror Purnell was also National President of Links, Incorporated from 1978 to 1982. Other office holders include Sorors Claire Collins Harvey, National Undergraduate Program Advisor; chairman of the Undergraduate Program Committee; Doveal Austin Essex, National AKA Connection Committee Member and chairperson for the South Central Region (1982-86). Soror Emma Dee Jenkins was a 1980 candidate for the South Central Regional Director. Currently, Soror Monique Edwards serves as Chairman of the Legacy Endowment Fund and Corporate Support Committee, Soror Katina Semien, International Nominating Committee, and Soror Desiree' Honore'-Thomas, International Connection Committee.
During the last year of Soror Gloria Chapman’s term as President (1985), the idea of a Building Fund Committee was conceived and a committee was selected to look into possibilities for the purchase of a building or property for a sorority house. Soror Kathryn Garner Jenkins Manadier served as the chairperson and, with her background in real estate, she very efficiently pursued the availability of purchases and prices and reported this information to the chapter. While these dreams were pursued, we set up pledges of $600.00 for five years as our beginning of a Building Fund for purchase of property on Harding Boulevard as we wanted a site near the Southern University campus. Through the search of our chairperson, we were able to purchase the property on Harding Boulevard through our lender - the First Federal Savings and Loan Association. That dream became a reality March 12, 1990. Prior to the purchase of the sorority house, the Ivy Foundation was established with members of the Building Committee serving as officers. The actual purchase of the property occurred during the tenure of Soror Joyce Williams O’Rourke’s term as president. The sorority house purchase was completed during the term of Soror Mildred Robertson Smalley as president.
February 10, 1991, Founders’ Day, a celebration was held unveiling the portrait of our Sixteenth Supreme President Julia Brogdon Purnell. A reception and ceremony honoring the unveiling of the portrait of Soror Dolores Richard Spikes, President Emeritus of Southern University. Soror Spikes retired in 2003 after serving as president of the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, Princess Ann, Maryland for five years.
Gamma Eta Omega continuously makes a concerted effort to ensure that the chapter’s program of activities continues to be relevant and viable.
Click this link for Membership information.
Members of the chapter have held both regional and national offices. Foremost is our very active and nationally renowned soror, Julia Brogdon Purnell, who was elected Southeastern Regional Director in 1958 while serving the latter part of a second term as President of Gamma Eta Omega. Immediately following her tenure as Regional Director (1958-62), she was elected and served as Sixteenth Supreme President (1962-66). It was during her office as Supreme President that the nationally acclaimed Cleveland Job Corps was established. Soror Purnell was also National President of Links, Incorporated from 1978 to 1982. Other office holders include Sorors Claire Collins Harvey, National Undergraduate Program Advisor; chairman of the Undergraduate Program Committee; Doveal Austin Essex, National AKA Connection Committee Member and chairperson for the South Central Region (1982-86). Soror Emma Dee Jenkins was a 1980 candidate for the South Central Regional Director. Currently, Soror Monique Edwards serves as Chairman of the Legacy Endowment Fund and Corporate Support Committee, Soror Katina Semien, International Nominating Committee, and Soror Desiree' Honore'-Thomas, International Connection Committee.
During the last year of Soror Gloria Chapman’s term as President (1985), the idea of a Building Fund Committee was conceived and a committee was selected to look into possibilities for the purchase of a building or property for a sorority house. Soror Kathryn Garner Jenkins Manadier served as the chairperson and, with her background in real estate, she very efficiently pursued the availability of purchases and prices and reported this information to the chapter. While these dreams were pursued, we set up pledges of $600.00 for five years as our beginning of a Building Fund for purchase of property on Harding Boulevard as we wanted a site near the Southern University campus. Through the search of our chairperson, we were able to purchase the property on Harding Boulevard through our lender - the First Federal Savings and Loan Association. That dream became a reality March 12, 1990. Prior to the purchase of the sorority house, the Ivy Foundation was established with members of the Building Committee serving as officers. The actual purchase of the property occurred during the tenure of Soror Joyce Williams O’Rourke’s term as president. The sorority house purchase was completed during the term of Soror Mildred Robertson Smalley as president.
February 10, 1991, Founders’ Day, a celebration was held unveiling the portrait of our Sixteenth Supreme President Julia Brogdon Purnell. A reception and ceremony honoring the unveiling of the portrait of Soror Dolores Richard Spikes, President Emeritus of Southern University. Soror Spikes retired in 2003 after serving as president of the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, Princess Ann, Maryland for five years.
Gamma Eta Omega continuously makes a concerted effort to ensure that the chapter’s program of activities continues to be relevant and viable.
Click this link for Membership information.
