The women of Beaufort Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated celebrated 48 years of service to Beaufort and Ridgeland communities Wednesday, June 19. 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. Founded 111 years ago on January 13, 1913, by 22 young women studying at Howard University who to create an organization rooted in sisterhood, scholarship, service, and social action.
Beaufort Alumnae Chapter was chartered in 1976 by sixteen dynamic young women looking to serve Beaufort and Jasper counties under the auspices of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. The noble charter women are/were: Charlotte Brown, Arlene Bates, Cynthia Bryan, Katie Coleman, Thelma Gillard, Brenda Glaze, Tamah Grant, Lolita Lowe Harris, Beverly McIntyre, Shirley Phillips Rogers, Lufreda Pyles, Muriel Smalley, Rita Smith, Thelma West, Georgia Williams, and Dorothy Young.
Beaufort Alumnae Chapter has blossomed into a sisterhood of 135 women proudly serving Beaufort and Jasper communities under the sorority’s Five Programmatic Thrusts:
• Economic Development
• Educational Development
• International Awareness and Involvement
• Physical and Mental Health
• Political Awareness and Involvement
This year, the chapter presented over $10,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors at Beaufort High School, Whale Branch Early College High School, and Ridgeland Secondary Academy of Excellence. Community service projects included providing travel bags with toiletries to the Department of Social Services in Beaufort and Jasper County, and over $10,000 in financial support to community organizations that included Penn Center, Family Promise, Hopeful Horizons, Beaufort Youth Conference, The Original Gullah Festival, ABLE, and Cindi-Fella to name a few.
The chapter commemorated its 48th anniversary by worshipping together at St. Paul AME church in Hardeeville, SC with Rev. Tanzala Shanklin Jennings. Jennings serves as the chapter’s chaplain and provides healthcare bags and community room games to the residents of Bayside Manor Nursing Home in Beaufort.
For more information, contact Tracye Stormer at beaufortdeltas@gmail.com, 843-271-2098, or visit the website: https://www.beaufortdeltas.org. Like or Follow the Beaufort Alumnae Chapter on Facebook at Beaufort Deltas.