History
Statement of Purpose
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was founded on January 13, 1913, by 22 collegiate women at Howard University to promote academic excellence and provide assistance to those in need. The Founders of Delta Sigma Theta envisioned an organization committed to sisterhood, scholarship, service, and addressing the social issues of the time. Since its founding, Delta Sigma Theta has become one of the preeminent service-based sororities, with more than 350,000 initiated members and over 1,050 chartered chapters worldwide.
As a sisterhood comprised primarily of Black, college-educated women, the Sorority seriously considers the issues impacting the Black community and boldly confronts the challenges of African Americans and, hence, all Americans. Over the years, a wide range of programs addressing education, health, international development, and the strengthening of African American families have evolved. The major programs of the Sorority are based upon the Five-Point Programmatic Thrust: economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health, and political awareness and involvement.
Chapter History
In the fall of 1968, with the guidance of Mrs. Thelma McClam Gilliard, twelve dynamic women met in the home of Mrs. Mary Ella W. Greene to share their vision of establishing a local chapter in the Georgetown area.
The chapter was incorporated on June 4, 1969, under the leadership of Mrs. Barbara Jenkins Williams, the South Atlantic Regional Director. Mrs. Thelma M Gilliard served as the first president, but shortly after being elected, she transferred to Beaufort to be with her husband, a member of the military. Mrs. Mary Ella W. Greene was then elected as president and served several terms.
Following a brief period of inactivity, Mary Ella W. Greene was approached by a group of recent Voorhees College graduates led by Vervatine Alston Reid, Linda Gayle Greene, Lena M. Greene, and Nancy H. McCormick, who expressed a desire to reactivate the chapter. In 1980, the chapter was reactivated with Nancy Hudson McCormick serving as president.
Over the past 57 years, under the leadership of Thelma M, Gilliard, Mary Ella W. Greene, Nancy Hudson McCormick, Mary N. Davis, Lillie J. Johnson, Alma Y. White, Ethel Blake Bellamy, Eunice F. Brown, Marthena Grate Morant, Vervatine Alston Reid, Michelle Greene, and Barbara S. Nesmith, the sorority has continued to provide public service to the community in the areas of Delta's Five Point Thrust Program.