Page 2 - New Bern Alumnae History-63 Years 8-1-16

New Bern Alumnae Chapter
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated

THE VISION AND THE ORIGIN: 1952 to 1953

In 1952, Frances W. Moore contacted Delta Sigma Theta National Headquarters to obtain the
requirements for establishing a local chapter, and learned that a minimum of nine financial sorors was
required. A search of the surrounding counties resulted in the location of nine sorors. Since none of
these sorors had affiliated with a chapter since college, each was required to be reinstated as a member
in good standing, a process that took approximately one year.

Their efforts were rewarded when on Saturday, February 28, 1953, Delta Chi Sigma Chapter was
chartered. As the South Atlantic Region was not to be established until 1960, officiating at the
ceremony was Eastern Regional Director Pauline F. Weeden of Virginia. Assisting her were Dr. Helen
G. Edmonds, Professor of History at North Carolina College, now North Carolina Central University,
and Soror Jennie D. Taylor of Durham, North Carolina, who later became Eastern Regional Director.
Accompanying them were Sorors Susan Faine, Secretary to the Regional Director, and Mae D. Holmes,
Superintendent of the Girls Training School of Kinston, North Carolina, later to become Dobbs School.

Officers elected for the newly chartered Delta Chi Sigma Chapter were:

Frances W. Moore, President: Soror Moore was also a charter member of Beta Kappa Chapter,
Livingstone College, Salisbury, North Carolina. She was employed at Craven County High School as
an educator.

Annie S. Donaldson, Vice-President: Soror Donaldson was initiated in approximately 1944 into Alpha
Lambda Chapter, North Carolina College in Durham, North Carolina. She was employed as a social
worker with Craven County.

Jeannette S. Hayes, Recording Secretary: Soror Hayes was initiated in 1933 into Alpha Rho Chapter
at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. She was an educator at Newbold High School in Dover,
North Carolina.

Alease Massenberg, Corresponding Secretary: Soror Massenberg was initiated in 1949 into Alpha
Mu Chapter at A&T University, Greensboro, North Carolina. She was employed as the Craven County
Home Demonstration Agent.

Lottie M. Blair, Treasurer: Soror Blair was initiated in 1943 into Alpha Chi Chapter at Tennessee
State University, Nashville, Tennessee. She was an educator at Jones High School, Trenton, North
Carolina.

Ida S. Franks, Chaplain: Soror Franks was initiated in 1940 into Alpha Kappa Sigma Chapter (a mixed
chapter) in Durham, North Carolina. She later became a charter member of Alpha Lambda Chapter, at
North Carolina College, in 1941. Soror Franks was an educator at Jones High School, Trenton, North
Carolina.

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