Below is the story of the Significant South Atlantic Region.

 

Genesis

Historic First

 The First Report    The South Atlantic Regional Directors

 

Genesis:

The original South Atlantic Region was composed of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.  Constitutional amendment for separation from the South Eastern Region into a new South Atlantic Region was voted at the 1953 Boule´ in St. Louis, Missouri. 

The South Eastern Region at the time of the realignment, because of size, was composed on Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.  Regional Directors, who have served, at onetime or the other with this area have been sorors:  Maude Brown Porter, Carolyn Blanton, C. Russell Harris, Portia Trenholm, Collye L. Riley, Arnetta G. Wallace, Mayme E. Williams, and A. Cathryn Johnson (listed in order). 

Soror A. Cathryn Johnson, then of Atlanta, Georgia, became the new South Atlantic Regional Director.  She had been elected South Eastern director when it was voted the region was too large.  Soror Lois Daniels of Nashville, Tennessee, was appointed to lead the South Eastern region. 

Historic First:

To facilitate change in the new alignment, Soror Johnson requested permission to plan together to have the first regional a joint session.  This was a historic first that worked well.  The two regional directors shared presiding at this well planned conference.

The joint session was held at Alabama A. and M. College, Normal, Alabama, April 15-18, 1954.  Hostess chapter was Epsilon Gamma Omega.  The new South Atlantic Region was composed of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. 

Notwithstanding the realignment of chapters, growth continued to afford the South Atlantic the distinction of being the largest region within Alpha Kappa Alpha. 

The First Report:

The first South Atlantic Regional report to the Boule´ was made at Nashville, Tennessee, December 1954 by Soror Johnson.  She reported the following:  “The new Undergraduate Cup was named ‘The Mayme E. Williams Cup’” for the former South Eastern Regional Director.  The cup was awarded to Gamma Tau Chapter, Bethune Cookman College, Daytona Beach, Florida.  The Graduate Cup was named ‘The Marie Woolfolk Taylor Cup’ for the founder.  The cup was awarded to Delta Omicron Omega Chapter, Orlando, Florida.”  (Minutes 1954 Boule´).

Directors who succeeded Soror Johnson have been Soror Georgia Schank appointed to complete her term.  She was elected in 1958 and became an Ivy Beyond the Wall, April 29, 1959, while serving her term.  Supreme Basileus, Soror Marjorie H. Parker, requested Soror Mayme E. Williams to serve in a brief holding position, until the appointment of Soror Sujette F. Crank as the Regional Director.  Soror Crank was later elected by the region.

The South Atlantic Regional Directors:

Soror

Term

Ivy Notes

Soror A. Cathryn Johnson*

1st Regional Director

(Atlanta, GA)

1953 - 1958 First Director of the South Atlantic Region

Soror Georgia Schank*

2nd Regional Director

(Orlando, FL)

1958 - 1959 Becomes an Ivy Beyond the Wall while serving her term

Soror Mayme Williams*

3rd Regional Director

(Miami, FL)

1959

Appointed by Soror Marjorie Parker, Supreme Basileus, to serve as Regional Director

Soror Sujette F. Crank*

4th Regional Director

(Atlanta, GA)

1959 - 1964 Later appointed to complete the unexpired term of Soror Schank

Soror Odessa S. Nelson*

5th Regional Director

(Columbia, SC)

1964 - 1968 The first African American woman to receive a master of science in zoology from the University of Pittsburgh

Soror Margaret Blake Roach*

6th Regional Director

(Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

1968 - 1970

Characterized by many as a “living legend.”  She brought recognition to Alpha Kappa Alpha through her work with the Mississippi Health Project

Soror Homie Regulus*

7th Regional Director

(Ft. Valley, GA)

1970 - 1974

College Librarian; she led the committee to preserve Alpha Kappa Alpha history’s, resulting in the sorority’s archival collections being housed at the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center at Howard University

Soror Norma Solomon White

8th Regional Director (Jacksonville, FL)

 

1974 - 1978

25th Supreme Basileus

Build and dedicated 10 schools in South Africa.  The first female member of the “FAMU Marching 100” band; and, the first female to direct the band.

Soror Delores Ham Oliver

9th Regional Director (Spartanburg, SC)

1978 - 1982

Maintained a no nonsense approach to implementation of Alpha Kappa Alpha’s policies and procedures.  Knowledge and respect for the sisterhood are paramount.

Soror Mary Shy Scott

10th Regional Director

(Atlanta, GA)

1982 - 1986

23rd Supreme Basileus

As Supreme Basileus, she completed the building and financing of the 3rd story addition to the national office.

Soror Federica Wilson

11th Regional Director

(Miami, FL)

1986 - 1990

Currently, a member of the Florida State Senate. She organized a role model program for black males.

Soror Vertelle Middleton

12th Regional Director (Charleston, SC)

1990 - 1994

She encouraged the undergraduate to become Leadership Fellows.

Soror Lucretia Payton Stewart

13th Regional Director

(Decatur, GA)

1994 - 1998

Past Supreme Parliamentarian

Brought high acclaim to the region with national recognition of PIMS (partners in Math and Science) program.

Soror Sonya Williams Garcia

14th Regional Director

(Tampa, FL)

1998 - 2002

Established the Stella Lett Undergraduate Leadership Institute.

Soror Irene Westbrooks McCollom

15th Regional Director (Orangeburg, SC)

2002 - 2006

Led the region through a national moratorium on undergraduate membership and return of initiation for the collegian.

Soror Ella Springs Jones

Centennial Regional Director (Augusta, GA)

July 2006 - Current First soror in Alpha Kappa Alpha’s history to contend for the office of Regional Director unopposed.

*Ivy beyond the Wall

 

Source:  South Atlantic Region, Our History, Alpha Kappa Alpha, 1953-1978

Source:  “The Past of Prologue, 1908 – 1999, The History of Alpha Kappa Alpha”

Source:  Interview with Soror Ella Springs Jones, August 2006

Source:  Interview with Soror Irene Westbrooks McCollom, August 2006

Source:  Interview with Soror Norma Solomon White, August 2006

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