The Charter Members
Having a commitment and a heart for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., several sorors who lived in Berkeley County were interested in establishing a chapter. Soror Patricia Alford-Gibbs and Soror Ermine Brown-Seabrook-Benjamin were active members of the Charleston Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. These sorors invited Sorors Madelin Wilson Gibson-Guy and Julia Richardson-Wright to the Charleston Chapter meetings as guests. Because of the conversations and inquiries, it was decided that Berkeley County needed a chapter. Soror Patricia Gibbs graciously opened her home for our initial gathering. Soror Almena Lucas Myers took the initiative to pursue the requirements for establishing an alumnae chapter.
Subsequently, Berkeley County Alumnae Chapter was chartered on May 22, 1976 at Wesley United Methodist Church in the Pinopolis Charge of Moncks Corner, South Carolina. The chapter was established with 21 members under the leadership of South Atlantic Regional Director, Soror Louise Riddick and our 16th National President, Soror Thelma T. Daily. Soror Patricia Gibbs became our first president and served two terms.
We were committed and still are to service. In our early beginnings, we sponsored tutorial programs, programs for developing leadership skills, and political debates, provided transportation to Get out the Vote; we were involved in community theatre productions with the youth, and one of our epic productions was, “Alice in Wonderland.” Our main fundraiser and signature event was “the Sweetheart Ball” held every February and the community looked forward to this event.
The chapter met originally at Soror Gibbs’ home, then at several other locations such as South Carolina National Bank currently known as Wells Fargo, Farmers and Merchants Bank, and Wesley United Methodist Church.
As a young, dedicated, and committed organization, the members made sacrifices. For example, our first delegate to the National Convention was Soror Patricia Gibbs. She paid all her expenses representing the Chapter; Her husband droved them to Houston Texas. And, actually, Sorors, WHEN DELTA CALLS, WE ANSWER!