History
Rho Tau Omega Chapter History
Charter Members
Bertadean W. Baker Rosiland C. Gilliam* Patricia A. Jones
Margaret W. Bullock Patsy T. Hargrove* Dorothy Lee McNair*
Eva M. Clayton Z. Mae F. Harrison* Faye Y. Spence
Constance A. Davis* Eva G. Howell Amanda West
Jennie A.J. Franklin Princine O. Jefferies* Robin S. Williams
*Deceased
Fourteen members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated had a dinner meeting in November 1988 at the Rafters Restaurant in Warrenton, North Carolina to discuss the possibility of forming a Warren County, North Carolina chapter. On December 6, 1988, an organizational meeting with fifteen members present was held at the home of Jennie A. Johnson Franklin. Members received copies of Procedures for the Establishment of Alumnae Chapters, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, (Revised July 28, 1986). An interest group was formed, officers were elected, and activities that addressed community needs were decided upon. Projects focused on drug abuse, support for foster children, support for the Adult Mentally Retarded Group Home located in Warren County, and support for a needy family (a single mother and three children).
The Alpha-Ka Interest Group remained in close contact with Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Marye J. Jeffries who monitored the club’s progress and its activities in the community. On Sunday, March 19, 1989, Rho Tau Omega Chapter was chartered by Regional Director Jeffries assisted by the following members of Zeta Pi Omega Chapter, Fayetteville, North Carolina: Sisters Rosetta (Pat) Darlington, Melba J. King, and Helen Pierce. Sisters from chapters throughout North Carolina and Virginia attended the chartering ceremony and luncheon. In April 1989, Jennie A. Johnson Franklin (President) and Rosiland Christine Gilliam (Vice President) were delegates to their first Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference where Rho Tau Omega Chapter was recognized as the Mid-Atlantic Region’s newest chapter.
Rho Tau Omega Chapter hosted the North Carolina Cluster in 1991 and 2012. Members have attended International Bi-annual Membership Meetings, Leadership Conferences, Mid-Atlantic Regional Conferences and Northern Carolina Clusters. We have chaired and/or served on national and regional committees. Members have served as workshop facilitators and recorders, made presentations at North Carolina Cluster meetings, and collaboratively planned, participated in, and hosted Joint Founders’ Day Celebrations.
One of the chapter’s first international projects was to support an African school with educational supplies (books, encyclopedias, dictionaries, pencils, pens, paper, etc.). Rho Tau Omega members mentored high school seniors who participated in Project Teach (an initiative under the direction of the North Carolina Education Forum and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction) and provided high school juniors and seniors with Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) test-taking strategies. Members also gave students guidance on completing college applications, provided practice sessions for interviews and chaperoned students to college campuses. Not only was this an accomplishment for the chapter, in later years, members mentored female high school students who were participating in Upward Bound/PRAISE as potential first generation college students.
The Warren County community benefited from the chapter by being able to recognize African American Males, Women, Elders, Youth and Female Entrepreneurs at special luncheons (entitled Salutes to...). The chapter supported Shoebox Initiatives for foster children; sponsored needy families in the community; supported the former AKA Job Corps Center (Cleveland, Ohio) and the Kittrell Job Corps Center at Kittrell, North Carolina; provided activities that focused on senior citizens and their health issues, as well as their social needs; provided winter Coat and Clothing Give-Aways for children and adults; and participated in Relay for Life Weekends (Walk-a-thons for the American Cancer Society). Toiletries were provided for clients in local nursing home facilities. In addition, school supplies were given to children of incarcerated parents and Christmas gifts were given to youth through the local angel tree. Healthy snacks were provided by the chapter to youth at a summer enrichment program also. Our chapter also prides ourselves in Saluting various groups in our community such as African American males, women, elders and youth, women entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals, community leaders, and spiritual leaders. Voter registration drives also are an important part of our service projects.
Education and cultural activities are the forefront of Rho Tau Omega Chapter's initiatives. Thousands of dollars in scholarships and grants are given to area high school seniors and college students. The Ivy Reading/Mathematics AKAdemy was an educational experience for elementary-aged students who were not only tutored by members, but who also engaged in science and other cultural activities. Our chapter assists youth with SAT prep and interviewing skills during with Target Teach program. We mentored Upward Bound/PRAISE females also. The chapter hosted On-Track and Ivy Reading/Mathematics AKAdemies also. Members reviewed business plans developed by high school students as a first step on the route to entrepreneurship. Presentations were critiqued and students were offered suggestions. In 2004, Little Miss Fashionetta - Pearls of Promise, an activity for elementary school-aged girls (six to ten years of age) was introduced and became the chapter's major scholarship fundraising effort. This event includes training in etiquette, health issues, grooming and modeling. Activities conclude with a mother/daughter brunch or a trip to a play at a regional theater. The chapter sponsored a team of members to participate in the Warren Education Fund’s Community Adult Spelling Bee. Annually, on the first Sunday in February the Chapter hosts the African American Read-In. Also we participate in local Martin Luther King, Jr. celebrations and have a service project for MLK Day of Service each year. We also have made yearly contributions to organizations such as the Warren County Community Center, Warren County Chapter of NAACP, Warren Family Institute, Helping Hands, United Negro College Fund, and Heifer International. Sisters are encouraged to support Black-owned businesses and annually hosts a dinner to commemorate its chartering.
Past Presidents
Jennie A.J. Franklin March 1989 - December 1991 Rosiland C. Gilliam January 1992 - December 1993
Margaret W. Bullock January 1994 - December 1995 Robin S. Williams January 1996 - December 1997
Constance H. Davis January 1998 - December 1999 Roberta S. Scott January 2000 - December 2001
Jennie A.J. Franklin January 2002 - December 2003 Kendra A. Davis January 2004 - December 2005
Jaycynthia S. Robinson January 2006 - December 2007 Linda T. Mason January 2008 - December 2009
Magnolia Clanton January 2010 - December 2011 Chelsa Jennings January 2012 - December 2013
Frances M. Robertson January 2014 - December 2015 Carolyn W. Spain January 2016 - December 2017
Kendra A. Davis January 2018 - December 2019 Kendra A. Davis January 2020 - December 2021
Audrey S. Davis January 2022 - December 2023 Magnolia W. Clanton. January 2024 - December 2025