Theta Omicron Omega Chapter celebrates 50th Anniversary
“Reverencing our Past, Celebrating our Present, and Launching New Dimensions of Service and Sisterhood in our Future” was the theme used by Theta Omicron Omega Chapter during its three-day celebration.
The weekend activities began on Friday night with a beautiful and funfilled Sisterly Relations Gathering at the lovely antebellum Stonewall Manor in Cartersville. Members enjoyed a delicious meal in an area beautifully decorated in pink and green.
Saturday evening’s Celebration Gala was held at the Krannert Center’s Spruill Ballroom on the Berry College campus. As guests entered the ballroom, a pink carpet with an Alpha Kappa Alpha Banner was available for photos.
The event was attended by some 300 individuals including chapter sorority members, visiting sorority sisters, family members, friends and special guests. A special table of memorabilia was displayed by Gail Veal, Co-Chairperson of the event. Ariel Prater & the Notes of Harmony entertained guests during their entrance and during the processional of program participants.
The attendees enjoyed the performances of Theta Omicron Omega’s sorority sisters entering the ballroom, strolling from three different entrances. President and Chairperson, Sherry Turner, extended greetings and recognized special guests. Angela Campbell, decorator and immediate pastpresident, gave the Occasion. CoChairperson, Marcheria Jessie,
introduced the Mistress of Ceremony, Marilyn Jones Arrington of Atlanta.
Special presentations and proclamations were made by elected officials from communities that the chapter serves which included: Commissioner Trent North of Carrollton; Mayor Jamie Doss of Rome; Mayor Chuck Wise of Kingston and Georgia’s 16th District State Representative Trey Kelly of Cedartown. Marvin Williams entertained guests with the musical selection, “That’s What Friends Are For.”
Ruby Morgan, Chapter Historian, shared an oral condensed version of the Chapter’s history followed by a video where she had previously interviewed three Charter members: Henrice Berrien, 65 years of sorority membership; Laney Stevenson, 63 years of sorority membership and Mary Callins, 60 years of sorority membership. These members, among other things, shared the beginning stages of Theta Omicron Omega.
The chapter began through the vision of nine local Alpha Kappa Alpha women who, during the late 60s, sought to address many of the pressing issues of the times and in so doing to carry out the motto of their beloved Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.: “To Be of Service to All Mankind.”
Betty Dean, committee member, paid tribute to the charter members with the reading of a poem, “Who Am I ?”
Special gifts were presented to the charter members in attendance: Marilyn Arrington, Henrice Berrien, Mary Ann Callins, Mary Carreathers, and Laney Stevenson, and special recognition and additional gifts were given to the charter members who have remained active with the chapter: Henrice Berrien, Mary Ann Callins, and Laney Stevenson.
Kelsey and Racheal Beeman, Aaron Bailey, Jordan Perkins, and Asia Turner paid tribute to these chapter members with a dance presentation to the song, “Glory” by Common and John Legend.
Claudia Freeman, committee member, gave a tribute to deceased members of Theta Omicron Omega. Such a member is considered an “Ivy Beyond the Wall.” Yvonne Prater, chapter chaplain and committee member, gave grace for the seated dinner.
Following dinner, Dr. Sherri Garrett, committee member,
introduced the keynote speaker, Dr. Lucretia Payton-Stewart, the 13th South Atlanta Regional Director of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Dr. Payton- Stewart commended Theta Omicron Omega for its accomplishments thus far and challenged the chapter “not to rest on its laurels” but rather to press on toward the mark of a higher calling because the times requires this of us as a sisterhood of service and of our society as a whole.”
A bouquet of yellow roses was presented to Dr. Lucretia PaytonStewart by Mario Hairston, president of Rho Pi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Sherry Turner, chapter president, also received a bouquet of yellow roses from her spouse, Timothy Turner, also a member of Rho Pi Lambda.
The evening’s event climaxed with closing reflections by way of the charter member’s interview video. Sherry Turner gave the closing remarks and it was followed by the singing of the sorority’s National Hymn by all members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. in attendance.
The weekend celebration concluded with Sunday morning worship service at Thankful Baptist Church, the site of Theta Omicron Omega’s chartering on May 27, 1967 by South Atlantic Regional Director, Odessa Nelson, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.