History of the Southeastern Region
The
phenomenal growth of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated from 1920
to 1927 prompted sorors from several parts of the country to develop
recommendations for the national body to refine chapter
functioning. This meeting was held in 1927 in Washington, D.C.
During the second term of Grand Basileus Fannie Givens (1920*1933),
the recommendations of decentralizing the administrative
responsibilities of the sorority were reviewed. After an in-depth
review, the national executive board sanctioned the development of
chapters into regions.
The
regions were divided into four sections – NEW ENGLAND REGION, MIDDLE
ATLANTIC REGION, SOUTHERN REGION and WESTERN REGION. The Regional
Directors were Sorors Andrades Lindsay Brown (New England), Elsie Z.
Graves (Middle Atlantic), Roberta F. Bell (Southern) and R. Lillian
Carpenter (Western).
As
membership continued to grow throughout the United States and
beyond, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated continued to refine
their organizational structure.
In
1934 under the tenure of Grand Basileus Violette Anderson, three
more regions were added – EASTERN REGION, SOUTHEASTERN REGION, and
CENTRAL REGION. With the additional regions, now there were seven
regions- EASTERN, MIDDLE ATLANTIC, SOUTHEASTERN, CENTRAL, SOUTHERN,
WEST CENTRAL, and SOUTH CENTRAL.
The
re-distribution of North Carolina and Tennessee made it possible for
the SOUTHEASTERN REGION to be comprised of FLORIDA, GEORGIA, and
SOUTH CAROLINA. In 1987, the U.S. Virgin Islands became a part of
the Southeastern Region. So as of this regional history book, the
Southeastern Region is comprised of FLORIDA, GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA
and U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS.
The
first Southeastern Regional Director was Sarah Grace Bradley of
Georgia (1934-1939). Under her leadership, the region focused on
programs that prevented juvenile delinquency; provided academic
assistance through tutoring and scholarships; and sponsored
community projects that helped women and their families grow and
develop
Soror Lucille G. Coleman successfully advocated for an Associate
Director in each state within the Southeastern Region that brought
another organizational change. Prior to this change, sorors that
gave direct assistance to the regional director were appointed and
identified as “Acting” under the direction of the regional
director.
The
first assistants to the regional directors were:
FLORIDA
Alpha H. Moore (1935-1946)
Celeste Green Hawkins (1948)
Marian Harris Shannon (1949-1952)
GEORGIA
Anita Stripling (1946)
Kate Shakespear (1959-1963)
Julia Mitchell (1963)
SOUTH CAROLINA
Claiborne Carter (1946-1959)
For
more information on the Southeastern Region, please visit
www.zphibseregion.org
