108 Years of service: The call. The journey. The destination

By Cheryl Bouyer
and Linda Bond Edwards
Special to the Outlook

The Tallahassee Alumnae Chapter (TAC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated celebrated 108 years of scholarship, service and sisterhood on Feb. 20 with community observers, Chapter members and Deltas from across the nation. Members from the Panama City Alumnae Chapter were special guests.

Chaired by Kara Palmer Smith and Co-chair L. Shuntel Fuller, the virtual Founders Day Program began at 10:13 a.m. and was viewed by more than 200 attendees. Dr. Valencia Matthews served as an engaging host and featured keynote speaker Dr. Cynthia Bond Hopson of Cordova, Tennessee.  Dr. Hopson mesmerized the viewing audience as she took them through the journey of self-care and enlightenment. First, she asked the audience to recognize when the call is for you; second, lighten your load and finally, know what the plan is when you get the ball. As she encouraged the audience to think beyond who they are, she suggested to not just seek a piece of the pie, but to create your own recipe.

The event also featured the awe-inspiring TAC Delta Choir singing their rendition of Kirk Franklin’s “Melodies from Heaven (Rain Down on Me)” under the direction of Adria Gumbel, who later blessed the audience with her arrangement of “Stand.” 

Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority Inc. is a service organization founded by 22 African American women on the campus of Howard University on Jan. 13, 1913.  These women wanted to promote academic excellence and aid those in need.  Their first public act was in March 1913, as the Founders of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, participated in the Women’s Suffrage March in Washington, D.C. After acknowledging the contribution of the 22 Founders, the Tallahassee Alumnae Chapter (TAC) shared a video of the Founders Day Service Project, a partnership with Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP). TAC agrees with SHP’s theme, “No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in our Town.” The funds and muscle were provided by Angel Donors who gave funds totaling $4,900 in support of the service project and participated in building and delivering the beds. The service project resulted in 10 bunk beds built to aid needy families in the Big Bend area. The beds included wood frames, mattresses, and bedding. The Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend joined forces to provide books to children ages 0-12. 

TAC also congratulated the recipients of the 2020 Delta of the Year and DELTA Business of the Year award during the virtual gathering. The Delta of the Year recipients were Joe Ann Houston, Kara Palmer Smith and Lois Scott for their outstanding leadership that resulted in TAC raising more than $160,000.00 for Delta Scholarships that are awarded to students in Leon, Jefferson, Madison, Wakulla, and Taylor counties. Cornucopia Wealth Management of Tallahassee under the leadership of President/CEO Robert Kenon received the DELTA Business of the Year award.

The weekend of celebration of 108 years of service concluded with TAC members attending virtual worship service at Mount Olive Baptist Church, Perry Florida, on Sunday, Feb. 21 and making a special donation to their ministry. Marilyn Henderson is the Chapter President.