Amarillo Alumnae Chapter

Charter members

Bennye Dangerfield Bailey
Rolla Jean Bently
Jewel Clay
Grace Cooper
Esther Cowens
Vivian L. Eddington
Nina Faine
Mary John Hand
Thelma M. Harron
Mary Gray Johnson
Hessie Jones
Helen Elliot Neal
Cora Wardlow Phillips
Lola Leonard Whitaker
Audrey McDonald Wilson

The long road to establishing a Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. chapter in Amarillo, Texas began in 1954 with 10 Deltas.

Between 1954 and 1960, the group had many unsuccessful attempts to establish an alumnae chapter. Whether it was not meeting the financial requirements or not meeting the ever increasing threshold of the number of members required by the Grand Chapter, the group’s efforts were foiled time after time.

Being loyal Deltas, their spirits were not crushed by the chain of failures they experienced. The torch still burned brightly for Delta, and they bounced back in 1960 with even more vigorous action.

Two new sorors moved to town bringing the total to 11 members in the city. They met constantly in an effort to remain familiar with Delta materials and policies, and so they would be prepared when the 12th soror came to Amarillo. She arrived during the latter part of 1960. The group became financial in 1962, and were joined by three more sorors from neighboring communities.

The hard work paid off and the chapter was finally approved. On April 26, 1962, the group received correspondence from Southwest Regional Director Anna H. Grant, that she would that she would be in Amarillo on Sunday, April 29, 1962, to charter the chapter.