Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated History
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority was founded on the campus of Howard University on January 15, 1908, less than 50 years after the end of slavery.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated ® (AKA), an international service organization, is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American college-educated women.
Known for its beautiful salmon pink and apple green colors, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated® is comprised of more than 360,000 initiated members in graduate and undergraduate chapters located in 12 nations and territories including the United States, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Japan, Liberia, Nigeria, South Korea, South Africa and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Our Founders
The Nine Founders were: Anna Easter Brown, Beulah Burke, Lillie Burke, Marjorie Hill, Margaret Flagg Holmes, Ethel Hedgemon (Lyle), Lavinia Norman, Lucy Diggs Slowe and Marie Woolfolk (Taylor).
To ensure the continuity of the organization, seven honor students from the Class of 1910, who previously had expressed interest, were invited to join without initiation.Those seven, “The Sophomores,” included: Norma Boyd, Ethel Jones (Mowbray), Alice Murray, Sarah Meriweather (Nutter), Joanna Berry (Shields), Carrie Snowden and Harriet Terry.
Our Incorporators
The Incorporators were: Nellie May Quander, Norma E. Boyd, Minnie Beatrice Smith, Julia Evangeline Brooks, Ethel Jones, and Nellie Pratt.
Alpha Beta Theta Omega Chapter History
Alpha Beta Theta Omega
May 7, 2022
The road to becoming.....
The Vision
The S.T.A.R.S. of Laurel
The S.T.A.R.S. of Laurel
The road to becoming the Alpha Beta Theta Omega (ABTO) Chapter began with Sonya Varnell having a vision to charter a chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated in the Laurel, Jones County area.
The S.T.A.R.S. of Laurel
The S.T.A.R.S. of Laurel
The S.T.A.R.S. of Laurel
Sonya, along with 8 other Alpha Kappa Alpha General Members, met on Thursday, December 11, 2014 at the home of Sonya McSwain to begin the planning of a chapter. This group of women decided to name the group S.T.A.R.S of Laurel and would provide services to Jones, Jasper, Covington, Smith and Wayne Counties. Their mission was “to focus on providing Progressive, Inspiring, and Empowering (P.I.E) programs and outreach. The aim was to be Progressive and forward-thinking regarding education, economic security, health care and poverty. To Inspire our young girls and women by serving as mentors and role models in leadership and womanhood. To Empower our community to take control of their destiny by encouraging skill-building and producing relevant programs.”
The Poised Pearls Interest Group
The Poised Pearls Interest Group
The Poised Pearls Interest Group
It was later decided to change the group’s name to the Poised Pearls of Laurel in 2020. The Poised Pearls was composed of 31 energized and excited women who were ready to serve the Laurel, Jones County Area.
Alpha Beta Theta Omega
The Poised Pearls Interest Group
The Poised Pearls Interest Group
On May 7, 2022 under the leadership of South Eastern Regional Director, Mitzi Dease Paige, Alpha Beta Theta Omega Chapter was chartered in Laurel, Mississippi to serve the counties of Jones, Jasper, Covington and Smith.