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The Savannah Tribune • Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Savannah Deltas Attend the Sorority’s National Centennial Convention
Gabrielle Whisenton, Delta Nu Chapter (SSU) President
& Grayzel Ellison, Savannah Alumnae President
M ore than 90 members of the Savannah Alumnae
Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., at
tended the 51st National Convention in Washing
ton, DC, in July, one of the major events celebrated by the
Sorority during it’s Centennial year. The Sorority was found
ed January 13, 1913 by 22 female collegiates at Howard Uni
versity in Washington. Members from throughout the United
States and around the world, in numbers exceeding 46,000
(and painting the city in red and white), came to the Capitol
City where it has been acclaimed that this convention was the
largest on record hosted in the City. Events of significance in
cluded the meeting in the Oval Office with President Barack
Obama attended by DST National President, Cynthia But-
ler-Melntyre, the Executive Board, and Past National Pres
idents of the Sorority; the dedication of Delta Sigma Theta
Way (at 1700 New Hampshire Avenue); and the dedication
of Fortitude Plaza and a stained glass window in honor of the
Founders at the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel - both on
the Howard University Campus. Keynote speakers included
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Former U. S. Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton, and the Reverend Dr. Bernice A. King;
as well as special greetings from Former President Bill Clin
ton and Nancy Pelosi, Minority Feader of the U.S. House of
Representatives among other distinguished civic leaders and
elected officials.
Savannah Alumnae’s 50-plus members were hon
Seated L-R: Shirley James, Dionne Hoskins, Sametria McFall-Dickerson, MarRonde Lumpkin-Lotson,
Standing L-R: Jenene Brown, Tammy Simmons, Jan Stevenson, Donna Brooks, Vera Johnson, Mattie Johnson
Seated L-R: Betty Bess, Gladys Lambert, Mattie Johnson. Standing L-R: Tanya Scott, Juanita Adams,
Grayzel Ellison, Laura Wiggins, Sherbie Adams, Margurite Birt, Ruby Jones, Angelia Dorsey
Dedication of Delta Sigma Theta Way. DST National
President, Cynthia Butler-Mclntyre on far right.
ored at the Southern Region’s Sisterhood Luncheon, and
those present to receive recognition included Bettye Berk-
steiner, Sherbie Adams, Gladys Lambert, Anna Watson,
Frankie Washington, Marguerite Birt, and Pearl Reddick.
Lytia Petrean and Robert A. Williams were representatives
from our youth programs, Delta GEMS and EBONI, who
were selected to participate in the Presidential Academy at
the Convention.
Six Honorary Members were inducted into the So
rority. They are Paula Mason, WNBA LA Sparks & African
Channel Owner; Rev. Suzan D. Johnson, US Ambassador at
Large for International Religious Freedom; Angela Bassett,
Actress; Susan Taylor, Founder, National Cares Mentoring
Movement and former Editor, Essence Magazine; Lisa Jack-
son, Apple Executive & Former Environmental Protection
Agency Administrator; and Dr. Tererari Trent, Zimbabwean
Scholar & Founder of The Tinogona Foundation.
Each of the seven (7) surviving National Presidents
were in attendance, and after presiding through a successful
and memorable year-long Centennial Celebration, Cynthia
M.A. Butler-Mclntyre, 24th National President, passed the
torch to the newly elected 25th National President, Dr. Pau
lette C.Walker of Tampa, FL. Convention Delegates were
Grayzel Ellison, president of the Savannah Alumnae Chap
ter; Gabrielle Whisenton, newly elected president of Delta
Nu Chapter at Savannah State University, who was recently
appointed South Georgia State Facilitator for the Southern
Region for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; and Alethia Har
rison, newly elected president of Tau Alpha Chapter at Arm
strong Atlantic State University.
DST Executive Board Members and Past Presidents in
Oval Office with U.S.President Barack Obama
Alethia Harrison, Newly Elected President,
Tau Alpha Chapter, AASU
L-R: Shirley James, Juanita Adams, Edna Jackson, Betty Bess,
Helen Louis & Mattie Johnson
Seated:Jo Holliman; Standing L-R: Terri Mobley, Carolyn Tremble, Ruth Wright,
Elaine Campbell, Joyce Davis
Pictured at Top Left: L-R: Terri Mobley, Vera Johnson, Janice Harris, Tonia Reynolds, Jenene Brown
Pictured at Top Right: Alums of Delta Nu Chapter, Savannah State University