Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Centennial Founders' Day Celebration January 10, 2013-January 13, 2013

One hundred years ago, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a public service sorority, was
founded January 13, 1913 on the campus of Howard University by twenty-two college
women. Since its founding, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority has attracted some phenomenal
women like Mary McCloud Bethune, Dorothy I. Height, Patricia Roberts Harris,
Barbara Jordan, and Charity Edna Earley.

I was inspired to become a Delta by two notable Deltas I came in contact at J. C.
Corbin High School, Pine Bluff, Arkansas. They were Dr. Phyllis Bernard Greenhouse,
(my home economics teacher, homeroom teacher, class advisor}, and Miss Willie B.
Thomas, ( my American History Teacher and sponsor of J. C. Corbin
National Honors Society).

I knew when I matriculated at AM&N College (Agricultural, Mechanical, and Normal
College) in the fall of 1953 that I would pledge Delta Sigma Theta. I wanted to be like
Mrs. Greenhouse and Miss Thomas. I pledged in October, 1954, my sophomore
year. Etta Walker was president of Delta Eta Chapter.

My membership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was signed by Dorothy
I. Height, President, Grand Chapter, May 11, 1955. Other signatories were
Nellie G. Roulhac, Secretary, Grand Chapter; Barbara L. Ware, President, Delta
Eta Chapter; Bobbie J. Sutton, Secretary, Delta Eta Chapter.

Delta women have made significant contributions through its Five Points Program.
Teachers have been the pathway to Delta by many account. I am proud to be an
inheritor of a legacy of achievement and dedication to public service.

I heard Delta's call in the footsteps of Founder Frederica Chase Dodd. I chose Atlanta
University for graduate studies and became a professional social worker.

I am honored to be associated with such an exemplary group of Delta women who
make a difference in the community. I am pleased to have been affiliated with the
Dayton Alumnae Chapter since 1959 and to have served on the African-American
Book Project, the Arts and Letter Committe, chairperson of Heritage and Archives,
and the first speaker for the Adopt A Deb luncheon. I am proud to be a fifty-seven
year Golden Life Membership Delta.

To walk on Howard University's campus where Delta Sigma Theta began one hundred
years ago was awe inspiring. Small acrons produce great oak trees. The vision of
Delta's twenty-two founders which shaped this might sorority is alive and well. Today,
there are over 190,000 members.

Sharing this Centennial Founders' Day Weekend and hotel (Mayflower Renaissance)
were my long time friend, Soror Diane D. Walker and travelling friend, Soror
Rosalyn Wilcox Givens. The three of us were at Delta Sigma Theta National
Convention in Philadelphia in 2006. Diane and Rosalyn were Line Sisters, inducted
at Ohio State University, Epsilon Chapter in 1956.

There was a lot of excitement. We had come to be a part of this once in a life time
celebration. My most memorable moment was the reenactment of the founding of
the sorority in a special dramatic presentation, "An Idea Conceived." My eyes
welled up with tears when I contemplated on how these twenty-two young, college
women had the right vision, acted on that vision, and made a difference that has
lasted a century.

Footnotes:
My Line Sisters were Betty Fitzhugh and Kay Francis Carr.

Delta Eta Chapter Members during my time at AM&N were:
Edith F. Brown, M. Faye Beavers, L Juanita Reddick, Harriett V. Elliott,
Evelyn George, Pearl J. Fisher, Edith M. Robinson, Barbata L. Ware,
Maggie Clary, Lucy M. Williams, Bobbie J. Sutton, Georgia C. Bush,
Barbara W. Thomas, Carla J. Crenshaw, Deloris Teague, Everlean Summers,
Mirlean Tatum, Deloris Grant, Alsenia Grant, Shirley Harrison, Nadine Cornelius,
Dorothy York, Norma Hearn, Fredda Washington, Lucy Williams, Betty Smith.

Great American Coin

I am round like a circle
and shaped like a ring.

I can be found around homes
in banks and dealer's shops.

I have a first and last name,
like you have a first and last name.
But sometimes called four bits.

I am an American, well-known in history,
an educator and founder of Tuskegee University.

I can be spent or
collected as a hobby.

I am made of precious metal
like silver is precious.

I am shiny to the eye, cool to the hand,
a great commemorative to own.

I am the Booker T. Washington fifty cent coin.


* The Booker T. Washington commemorative
    silve half-dollar was issued (1946-1951)
    by the United States Mint to honor the
    ideals and teachings of this American Educator.

Why do we remember the past? Why do we care about the Past?

We remember the past because those who cannot remember the past are condemned
to repeat it. George Santayana (philosopher 1863-1952).

We care about the past because sometimes the past is never the past. The people may
have changed but the social circumstances and conditions remain the same. We care
about the past which was once the prest because it affected our lives, our neighbors,
and our community.

On July 8, 2001, at home in Pine Bluff, I interviewed my mother about some of the
 events she remembered, growing up in rural Lincoln County, Arkansas.

The Big Tornado of 1926
I remember the Big Tornado of 1926. It was Thanksgiving Day. Grand mama Bluford
had me and Sister (Margaret) in the buggy. We went to Marzell Church. No one else
showed up. Just as we made it back home, the tornado hit. Alberta Banks' sister, Lovie
Banks was killed by the storm. The next morning, we heard that Mr. Otto Hall's daddy
was killed in the storm. He went to let the window down in his home and was blown
into the lake.

The Mississippi River Flood of 1927
I remember the Great Flood of 1927. I was eleven years old. We were living on the Diggs
Place, next to the Johnson Place (maternal grandfather's farm). Everyday, we had fish to
eat. There was a slue. We caught big grinners. Daddy stayed up all night, going in and
out, watching the rising water. We didn't have to move.

Murder at Grady
When I asked Mom: What is the worst thing you remember, growing up? Do you
remember a lynching? She recounted this event:
There was no lynching but the most shocking thing that happened at Grady was when
Sister and I were going to Grady School. Mr. Joe Gocio ( white landowner and merchant)
hired  some black men to kill Mr. Queeny (a black man) but they ended up killing the
wrong man (another black man, Mr. Willie McClinton) at Mr. Queeny's house. We saw
the dead body on the porch on our way to school. He was shot. This happened in the
1930s' but before 1935.

Mr. Willie McClinton's son and grandchildren, Dollie McClinton and Tommie
McClinton lived on the Gocio Place, off from Tamo. I don't know the outcome-
what happened to the murderers. They were called Mr. Gocio's Niggers.

The story illustrates how a powerful man could recruit or intimidate less
powerful men to kill another human being. There may have been other events of
this kind that happened in Lincoln County.  Similiar stories have surfaced.

UAPB Gladys Turner Finney Coin Collection Exhibit

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Museum and Cultural Center
was established in the Spring of 2005. It is located on the campus in Childress
Hall.

The Gladys Turner Finney Coin Collection Exhibit was established at the
University in 2008. The Exhibit is on display daily during the Museum's regular
hours.

Frederick M. Finney (1941-2008) Chronological Record

• 1960     Graduated Academy High School, Troy, Alabama.
•              Enrolled  Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio.
• 1962     Enlisted United States Air Force, November, 1962.
• 1963     Assigned to basic training, Lackland AFB, Texas; Greenville AFB, Mississippi.
• 1964     Mather AFB, California; temporary assignment for school, University of Omaha,
•              Omaha, Nebraska. 
• 1965     Reassigned and discharged from Mather AFB, California.
•              Discharged from U.S. Air Force, December 31, 1965.
• 1966     Employed Reynolds & Reynolds Co, Dayton, Ohio ( factory worker litho
•              press operator), February 1966 - September, 1968.
• 1967     Graduated Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio, BA Economics
•              and History.
• 1968     Entered Antioch College Graduate School, September, 1968.

         1969     Graduated Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, Master of Arts
                       in teaching, August, 1969.

•             Taught adult education (data processing, math, english & social science),
•              Greene County OIC, 1969.
•              Appointed Program Analyst, City of Dayton Model Cities Program,
•              November 17, 1969.
• 1970     Appointed Evaluation Director, Model Cities Program, April, 1970.
• 1972     Married Gladys T. Turner.
• 1973     Graduated Wright State University, M.S. Economics.
• 1976     Resigned Evaluation Director, Model Cities, April 2, 1976.
• 1974-79 Graduate student and teaching assistant, University of Cincinnati Ph.D.
•               Economics Program (1972-79).
• 1976-81 Private real estate business. Bought, repaired, rehabilitated, single-family
•                homes.
• 1978-83 Taught Political Science, Sinclair Community College.
• 1983       Cost Analyst, US. Air Force, Wright Patterson AFB (March)
• 1983-88  Cost Analyst reviewing & writing Economic Analyses for computers
•                and data automation projects.
• 1988-90 Cost Analyst reviewing & writing Independent Cost Estimates and Analyses
•               (Airforce parts).
• 1990      Cost Analyst Information Management Branch.
• 1990-91 Cost Analyst for proposed Weapon Systems.
• 1990      Elected Internal Auditor (one of three) AMER Temple 107, Dayton, Ohio
• 1991      Enrolled Regents College .
• 1992      Appointed Imperial Deputy- Computer Analysis, Imperial Council,
•               AEAOONMS (August, 1992).
• 1993      Graduated Regents College, University of State of New York- Degree in
•               Operations Management and Accounting. 
•                                                                                           

Essix Johnson (1890-1967) Pfc. United States Army WWI (3843878)

Born April 20, 1890 to Essix Johnson and Jessie (Benson) Johnson at Grady, Lincoln
County, Arkansas. Occupation: Farmer

Place of Entry: Grady, Arkansas: July 29, 1918
Place of Separation: Camp Shelby, Mississippi: August 21, 1919

Decorations and Awards
World War I Victory Medal
World War I Victory Button

He died August 9, 1967.




















Buried: Randolph Cemetery, Grady, Lincoln, Arkansas, August 13, 1967.

                                                  

Ebbie Bluford (1893-1968) Pfc. United States Army World War I (2125928)

Born in Tallulah, Madison Parish, Louisiana February 27, 1893 to George and Savannah
(Dozier) Bluford. Occupation: Farmer. He entered the Army in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on
February 26, 1918.

 

Assignment/Location:
He served with the 162nd Depot Brigade;Company D, 310th Labor Battalion
                                282nd Headquarters, Camp Lee, Virginia
                                Camp Pike, Arkansas, Arkansas 12th Company 3rd Training Battalion

Decorations and Awards: World War I Victory Medal with France
                                           Service Clasp
                                           World War I Victory Button (bronze)

Place of Separation: Camp Lee, Virginia, November 26, 1919.

He died in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas on August 30, 1968.
Burial: Saint Ollie Baptist Church Cemetery, September 8, 1968
             Meroney, Lincoln County, Arkansas