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.
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 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 Schanck 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 Region is home to two former Basilei, Soror Mary Shy Scott, 23rd Supreme Basileus of Atlanta,GA (1990 - 1994), and Soror Norma Solomon White, 25th Supreme Basileus of Jacksonville, FL (1998-2002). Another beacon of the South Atlantic Region is our current International President, the 28th Supreme Basileus of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Soror Carolyn House Stewart of Tampa, FL (2010-2014). She is leading the way with her aphorism "Global Leadership Through Timeless Service." The South Atlantic Region is fortunate to birth such great visionaries of leadership.
Soror |
Term |
Ivy Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Soror A. Cathryn Johnson* |
1953 - 1958 |
First Director of the South Atlantic Region |
|
Soror Georgia Schanck* |
1958 - 1959 |
Becomes an Ivy Beyond the Wall while serving her term |
|
Soror Mayme Williams* |
1959 |
Appointed by Soror Marjorie Parker, Supreme Basileus, to serve as Regional Director |
|
Soror Sujette F. Crank* |
1959 - 1964 |
Later appointed to complete the unexpired term of Soror Schank |
|
Soror Odessa S. Nelson* |
1964 - 1968 |
The first African American woman to receive a master of science in zoology from the University of Pittsburgh |
|
Soror Margaret Blake Roach* |
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* |
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 |
1974 - 1978 |
25th Supreme Basileus |
|
Soror Delores Ham Oliver |
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 |
1982 - 1986 |
23rd Supreme Basileus |
|
Soror Frederica Wilson |
1986 - 1990 |
Former member of the Florida Senate and currently a member of the United States House of Representatives. She organized a role model program for black males. |
|
Soror Vertelle Middleton |
1990 - 1994 |
She encouraged the undergraduate to become Leadership Fellows. |
|
Soror Lucretia Payton Stewart |
1994 - 1998 |
Past Supreme Parliamentarian |
|
Soror Sonya Williams Garcia |
1998 - 2002 |
Established the Stella Lett Undergraduate Leadership Institute and the Stella Lett Scholarship. |
|
Soror Irene Westbrooks McCollom |
2002 - 2006 |
Led the region through a national moratorium on undergraduate membership and return of initiation for the collegian. |
|
Soror Ella Springs Jones |
2006 - 2010 |
|
*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
Chapters
The Significant South Atlantic Region is made of 159 graduate and undergraduate chapters in the states of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.