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The Violet Center for Life Development, Incorporated, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, was organized June 19,
2001 to provide the Chapter with the necessary means to strengthen the development and execution of its charitable
and educational programs. In 2011, the name was changed to the Delta Center for Life Development (DCLD) to
further strengthen the bond between the Chapter and its 501(c)(3) philanthropic arm. At the August 2015 National
Convention, the Sorority mandated that chapters must operate separately from the auxiliary charitable entities. Operat-
ing as a separate entity governed by its Board of Directors, DCLD now implements its programs and projects and
services organizations in the Rocky Mount/Edgecombe/Nash community, while partnering with the Rocky Mount
Alumnae Chapter when requested.
The current chapter membership stands at 118 members. Sorors with Delta membership of 50 years or more are: So-
rors Jeannette Belfield, Angela Bryant, Carolyn Edge, Fatina P. Gaston, Mary Hannon, Evelyn Hart, Jessie Jones,
Gertie Lewis, Naomi P. Locus, Katherine N. Lucus, Claudia Spencer, Lesterine Sturdivant, Mary B. Sutton, Kay T.
Thomas, Marilyn Hart Vines, and Gwendolyn Wigen. Chapter members have also served on the regional and national
levels of the Sorority in several appointed positions such as chair and members of committees, members of choir,
State Facilitator and Coordinator, Regional Conference Secretary, Conference secretaries and Choir Director. Sorors
Jennie Douglass Taylor, Edythe Robinson Tweedy and Mary Bennett Sutton were elected to the office of Regional
Director for the Eastern and South Atlantic Regions respectively.
th
Rocky Mount Alumnae Chapter observed its 70 Anniversary in grand style in 2017 with a banquet featuring
th
Dr. Paulette C. Walker, the Sorority’s 25 National President, a Jazz Soiree and worship services with the
inspirational message delivered by our soror, Pastor Audrey McCarter Hedgepeth. The chapter continues to fulfill
Delta’s Five Point Programmatic Thrust under the very capable leadership of President Barbara Smith.

PAST PRESIDENTS OF ROCKY MOUNT ALUMNAE CHAPTER
1947-2019: Marguerite Armstrong* Julia Sessons* Irma Brown* Jessie Pash*

Sarah Leonard* Ethel Bryant* Juanita Burnett* Brenda Edge*
Edythe R. Tweedy* Alice Roberson* Rita C. Henning* Mabel Williams*
*Deceased

1973-2021: Pictured below

Left to Right: Jessie M. Jones, Naomi Locus, Kay Thomas, Mary B. Sutton, Leorita Hankerson
Gwendolyn C. Wigen, Claudia Spencer, Evelyn Hart, Lesterine D. Sturdivant,
Penelope Vaughan*, Ann P. Edge*, Katrina Alston-Joyner, Natalie Brooks.
Not pictured: Barbara Smith (current president)
*Deceased