Page 23 - 2025 RMAC Jabberwock Scholarship Program

A Journey of Scholrarhip, Elegance and Grace
Academic Awards

Jabberwock 2021 salutes the three Sorors who are namesakes for our academic awards: Marguerite Armstrong, President
1947-1949; Sarah Leonard, President 1949-51 and Irma Brown, President 1969-71. The Brown-Leonard Academic
Award is presented to the senior with the highest academic average and the Marguerite Armstrong Academic Award, to
the junior with the highest academic average. Our chapter will forever be indebted to these Sorors who unselfishly gave
their time and service.

Soror Irma Brown, a native of Edgecombe County, matriculated at Minor Teachers College where
she earned a Master of Science Degree and graduated magna cum laude. At New York University
in New York City; East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina; University of North
Carolina at Greensboro; and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she did her
graduate study and received her MASTER Teachers Certification and Master of Arts Degree.

When Soror Brown returned to Rocky Mount from Washington, DC she worked as an educator in
the Edgecombe County School System. Also, she served as Acting Director, Director of Instruction,
and Associate Director at the Rocky Mount Area Supplementary Education Center. Soror Brown, the eleventh President
of the Rocky Mount Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was an asset to the community as well as to
the sorority. Other areas of service included a volunteer to March of Dimes, Girl Scouts, and a member of the YWCA
Steering Committee.

Soror Sarah Leonard, the second President of Gamma Kappa Sigma Chapter of Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority, Inc., which later became the Rocky Mount Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority, was a very special lady with a disposition of charm, beauty, and grace. She
was an educator in the Rocky Mount City Schools. As a classroom teacher at Lincoln and O.
R. People Schools, she was held in high esteem. Later she became a Speech Therapist for the
City. Soror Leonard zealously served her community and church. She was an entrepreneur who
was co-owner of Sorrell Funeral Home which later became Hunter-Odom. After Mr. Sorrell’s
death, she became the wife of Walter “Buck” Leonard, the famed Negro Baseball League member
who played for the “Grays.” Soror Leonard’s contributions certainly did send forth a gleam of hope that led to many
future successes.

Soror Marguerite Carson Armstrong, the first President of Gamma Kappa Sigma of Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority, Inc. was a daughter of teachers, had the desire to become a teacher instilled in
her by her mother. She was an alumna of Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina where she
graduated Cum Laude as salutatorian and Columbia University in New York City. Her career in
teaching included these area schools: Nash County Training School (later named Nash Central
High School), Booker T. Washington High School, and Rocky Mount Senior High School. Soror
Armstrong, a warm and caring person, was exceptionally intelligent and demanded one’s best
performance whether in the sorority, in English and Spanish classrooms, or as a class advisor,
English Department Chair, girls’ varsity basketball coach, drama director, public speech coach. Her
former students recognize her as being a teacher of excellence or their “Best Teacher.” Beyond her teaching
experiences, she served outstandingly as a judge of the Achievement Awards in the Writing Contest sponsored by the
National Council of English Teachers.

The Rocky Mount Alumnae Chapter proudly salutes the memory and legacy of these three incredible Sorors Sarah Leonard,
Irma Brown, and Marguerite Armstrong for providing us with a roadmap to excellence in community service and academic
pursuits.

HERSTORY: MAKING A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE 23