ShareOur History
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated was organized on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. during the 1907-1908 academic year, making it the
oldest Greek-letter organization established in America by women of color. As an extension of this great legacy, which is comprised of over 355,000 members today, the Tau Chi Omega Chapter was
chartered on May 22, 1993, at the Grant Bly House located in DeLand, Florida. The chapter is the 134th chapter in the South Atlantic Region which encompasses Florida, Georgia, and South
Carolina.
In 1992, Elsie Bryant had the goal of establishing a local chapter in order to serve the West Volusia County area since the closest chapter was in Daytona Beach.
Elsie knew there were members of her sorority in the area from the pink and green license plate tags but needed a way to contact the members. Elsie decided to post an ad in the local Penny Saver with
the time and place for all ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in Deltona, DeBary, and Deland to meet in store, Goodings which is now Winn Dixie. After meeting with Tonya Bradley Young who also
contacted Jacquelyn Wright, one by one, more members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated came together and Tau Chi Omega Chapter was established.
The twenty charter members include Gayle Bouie*, Mae Walker*, Pamela Brown, Carnetta Odom, Elsie Bryant, Miriam Patterson, Mildred Coulter*, Ruby Robinson*, Flora
Fair, Angelia Smith, Ora Harris*, Billye Staples, Lynn Green*, Sonia Jenkins, Donna Staples, Marsha Jones-Lewis, Carol Thames, Kimberly Johnson, Jacquelyn Wright, Joy Bradley Leonard, Cheryl
Whitted*, and Tonya Young Bradley, all who joined together to fulfill the purpose of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated in the West Volusia County community.
Since the inception 30 years ago, Tau Chi Omega Chapter has provided a consistent helping hand to the West Volusia Community. The chapter has been involved in
countless projects and activities. Some of the projects include but are not limited to the Debutante Cotillion, curators for the Black Heritage Room Exhibit which is a permanent black history
collection of artifacts from the Southwest Volusia County community, the Reading AKAdemy, the SOS Shoe Box Project at the Day Care, Book Fair/Storytelling, Scholarships, Health and Wellness Seminars,
Breast Cancer and Colon Cancer Awareness, Environmental impact programs, Financial Awareness, mentoring youth, and leading programs to combat childhood hunger. Additionally, many of the members of
Tau Chi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated are also Life Members of the NAACP. In order to maintain a strong and positive influence for the young adult women.
As the sorority surpasses a century of service, issues will continue to be addresses that benefit the sisterhood and the communities we serve. The sorority, as well
as the chapter, has a strong unwavering commitment to educational excellence, collaborating with other organizations, and the community at large to effectively transform political rights to economic
power and to remain prideful and territorial in the growth and proliferation of the heritage.
The sorority was founded with the belief that sisterhood and service go hand-in-hand. Over the past 100+ years, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, has used
the power of that concept to transform actions into a proud history of supporting academic achievement, combating disease, broadening career opportunities, and fighting for human rights in local
communities and around the world. With the force of this powerful legacy as the wind in its sails, Tau Chi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, is poised for success in the next
100+ years.
Charter Members
Gayle Lee*
Pamela Brown
Elsie Bryant
Mildred Coulter*
Flora Fair
Ora Harris*
Sonya Jenkins
Marcia Jones
Kimberly Johnson*
Joy Bradley Leonard
Carnetta Odom
Miriam Patterson
Ruby Robinson*
Angelia Nealy Smith
Billye Staples
Donna Staples
Carol Thames
Jaquelyn Wright
Cheryl Whitted*
Tonya Young-Bradley
*Deceased
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