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Huntsville AlumnaeDelta Delta & Omicron Gamma
Present
Sunday, January 17, 2021
6:30 p.m.
108of
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated
th
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"Living theLegacy:
AppreciatingOur Past,
Changing OurPresent, andInfluencingOur Future"
Our Founding: A Historical PerspectiveDelta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was founded on Monday, January 13,1913 by twenty-two collegiate women on the campus of Howard University. Thesevisionary students wanted to use their collective resolve to promote academicexcellence and heighten social awareness with emphasis on public service. OnMonday, March 3, 1913, the Founders first call to action was to participate in theWomen's Suffrage March in Washington, DC, where they joined the ranks ofthousands fighting for the right to vote for women. Although founded in 1913,Delta Sigma Theta was incorporated in 1930 as a national sorority. To date, thereare more than 300,000 sorors duly initiated in 1000 chapters.
Our Chartering: A Local PerspectiveThe Huntsville Alumnae Chapter, formerly Epsilon Delta Sigma, was charteredon Saturday, April 24, 1954 on the campus of Alabama Agricultural andMechanical College (University). The Fifty-seventh chapter in the SouthernRegion was the vision of fourteen women of distinction.
Our Charter MembersAlice Allen*, Mamie Bonner*, Nell Bradford, Virginia Brooks*, Gilla Byrd*,Roberta Cowans*, Emma Kate Gray*, Irma Hollins*, Inez Lee*, EtheldaMalone*, Louise Ragland*, Annabelle Spann*, Elsie Wallace*, and DorisWright*. *Deceased
The Founders of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated
Osceola McCarthy Adams *Marguerite Young Alexander *Winona Cargile Alexander *
Ethel Cuff Black *Bertha Pitts Campbell *Zephyr Chisom Carter *Edna Brown Coleman *Jessie McGuire Dent *Frederica Chase Dodd *
Myra Davis Hemmings *Olive Claire Jones *
Jimmie Bugg Middleton *Pauline Oberdorfer Minor *Vashti Turley Murphy *
Naomi Sewell Richardson *Mamie Reddy Rose *Eliza Pearl Shippen *
Florence Letcher Toms *Ethel Carr Watson *
Wertie Blackwell Weaver *Madree Penn White *Edith Mott Young *
* Deceas ed
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Mrs. Courtney Winn-Hamilton, Founders Day ChairpersonMrs. Kristi McGuire and Ms. Jennifer Pigott, Founders Day Co-Chairpersons
Huntsville Alumnae Chapter
Prelude...............................................................................Mrs. Jackie Perry, Immediate Past President Huntsville Alumnae Chapter
Welcome.......................................................................................................Mrs. Ovetta Hobson, President Huntsville Alumnae Chapter Ms. Tamya Houston, President Delta Delta Chapter Ms. Amber Hinton, President Omicron Gamma Chapter
Occasion..........................................................................................Ms. Tonita Phipps, 1st Vice President Huntsville Alumnae Chapter Ms. Demetra Gilmore, 2nd Vice President Huntsville Alumnae Chapter
Invocation......................................................................................................Ms. K. Kelli Curry, Chaplain Huntsville Alumnae Chapter
Musical Selection.................................................................................................................Sisters In Praise Recognition of Charter Members and Past Presidents......................................................................Ms. Jennifer Pigott
Introduction of Keynote Speaker.........................................................Mrs. Courtney Winn-Hamilton
Musical Selection...................................................................................Ms. Jada Spight, 2nd Runner Up Sunday's Best; Alpha Beta Chapter
Keynote Address.................................................................................................Rev. Janae Pitts-Murdock Past Southern Regional Chaplain
Remembering the Reason with Liturgical Dance.......................................................Sister Movement Recognition of 25/50 Year Anniversaries..............................................................Mrs. Kristi McGuire
Greek Medley
Expressions of Gratitude/Remarks............................................................................Mrs. Ovetta Hobson
2021 FOUNDERS DAY PROGRAM
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GUEST SONGTRESSMs. Jada Alanna Spight is the fifth of six children born toPastor Lee Allen Spight, Jr. and Michelle Denise Spight. At anearly age her parents knew that there was a special anointingon her life and that she was sent to spread love and hopethrough singing. Her early years were spent traveling with herparents, singing at local churches and conventions. In 2015 sherelocated from Kansas City to Buffalo, New York with her Mom
and began attending Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts where shestudied vocal music. She was privileged to be a member of the Vocal Symphony,Resonance Vocal Jazz Ensemble and served as the senior representative for the vocalmusic department at Performing Arts. Jada has competed with over 10,000 studentsacross the country and was one of the 2018 winners of the National YoungArtsFoundation Talent Search. She has received numerous civic commendations for herparticipation within her community, most recently being honored with a “Jada AlannaSpight Day" in the city of Buffalo commemorated on August 23, 2020. After receivingover a dozen acceptance letters to colleges and universities across the country, Jadamade her decision to commit to Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. She iscurrently in her junior year majoring in Music with a concentration in Voice and amember of the Alpha Beta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. Jada is not ashamed of hertestimony. She was severely burned in her head as a child, survived homelessness withher family and was resilient through frequent relocations during her father’s tenure asa pastor. She can say assuredly “she is still here by the grace of God. At only 19 yearsold Jada has been blessed to share the stage with Pastor Kim Burrell, Dottie Peoples,Dorinda Clark Cole, Opera great Angela Brown, as well as her own sister, gospelrecording artist, Alexis Spight. She and Alexis collaborated on The Cover MeFoundation’s project entitled “All is Not Lost.” Jada is featured among music industrygreats such as Mali Music, The Clark Sisters, Amber Bullock and Kierra Sheard. She isa proud member of the True Bethel Church under the leadership of Bishop DariusPridgen in Buffalo, New York. Recently, Jada appeared as a contestant on thetelevision series, "Sunday Best", and placed as a finalist (runner up). She has been aninvited guest all across the country using her gift to spread love and encouragementthrough the message of Jesus Christ. Most importantly, Jada is committed to beingGod’s ambassador by spreading love, joy and Jesus everywhere she goes.
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Pastor R. Janae Pitts-Murdock is a native of Detroit, Michigan and wasordained into the gospel ministry at New Bethel Baptist Church underRev. Robert Smith, Jr. She is a lover of God and God’s people thattravels the nation inspiring people to live their best lives. Pastor Janae isa lifelong learner who believes that excellence honors God and for heranything less is unacceptable. She is a graduate of the University ofMichigan-Ann Arbor with a Bachelor of Arts degree in CommunicationsStudies, Carnegie Mellon University with a Master of Science degree inPublic Policy & Mananagement
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Management, United Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree, and Universityof Memphis with a Master of Business Administration. Pastor Janae has been featured in TheAfrican American Pulpit, a quarterly journal that serves as a repository for the very best ofAfrican American preaching. She has served in the U.S. Department of the Army as a U.S.Presidential Management Intern and later as a Logistics Management Specialist. She wasemployed at The Pentagon during the September 11, 2001 attacks. While grateful to havebeen on assignment away from The Pentagon on that day, Pastor Janae mourns with thosewho lost loved ones. She has served as Lead Pastor at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church(Disciples of Christ) in Memphis, TN under Pastor Frank A. Thomas. After MississippiBoulevard Christian Church, Pastor Janae was employed by the City of Memphis as theCoordinator of Teen Services for the Memphis Public Library and Information Center whereshe was responsible for teen programming at 18 public library locations and spearheaded the$2 million construction and development of a digital teen learning lab, CLOUD901. PastorJanae also served as Connections Pastor at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) inRogers, Arkansas where she created systems to connect members to serving opportunities andimprove ministry administration. On November 11, 2020 after several months of interimministry and by a nearly unanimous congregational vote, Pastor Janae was elected as thetwenty-first Senior Pastor of Light of the World Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) inIndianapolis, Indiana. In the last year, the church has experienced healing, revitalization,and renewed strength. Under her leadership, Light of the World has initiated numerousvirtual ministries like daily prayer calls, online meditation, wellness groups and growthgroups to aid members during the COVID-19 global pandemic. She accomplished all of thatwhile being a candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy in African American Preaching andSacred Rhetoric at Christian Theological Seminary. Initiated into the Detroit AlumnaeChapter or Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. she is currently an active member of theNorthwest Arkansas Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and haspreviously served as Regional Chaplain for the Southern Region. Pastor Janae is married tothe one she calls, “God’s embodiment of divine love,” Jeffrey Allen Murdock, PhD, who isAssistant Professor of Choral Music Education and Associate Director of Choral Studies atthe University of Arkansas. Together they have three children; Jasmine, Jeffrey III, andJohn Patrick.
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Huntsville Alumnae ChapterChapter Officers
2019-2021Ovetta Hobson, President
Tonita Phipps, First Vice PresidentDemetra Gilmore, Second Vice President
Shelia Nash- Stevenson, Recording SecretaryRashanda Kennamore, Corresponding Secretary
Jerita Crummie, Financial SecretaryAnnjeanette Walker, Assistant Financial Secretary
Jenise Bradshaw, TreasurerTonju Samuels, Assistant Treasurer
Briggitte Fletcher, Chair Internal AuditAlexis Toney, Chair NominatingSelicia Hughes-Kidd, Journalist
K. Kelli Curry, ChaplainMichelle Hankins, CustodianMalissa Blake, Parlimentarian
Deloris Alsup-Smothers, Sergeant-at-ArmsJackie Perry, Immediate Past President
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated
Founders Day CommitteeChairperson
Courtney Winn-Hamilton Co-Chairpersons
Kristi McGuire & Jennifer Pigott Gladys Branch
Jayne GoldOctavia Garrett
Mary KellyTianna LoveCarla Parker
Tonju SamuelsToni SavageAlisha Wade
Annjeanette WalkerSorita WherrySharifa Wip
Vivica Parker Jackie PerryVeva Phipps
Monica Phipps-StewartNakayla Randolph-Moore
Kayla RiceSelena Robinson
Special thanks to Sister Circle leaders for their effort in makingour service project a success.
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Amber Hinton, PresidentVivica Parker, Vice President
Michaela Dent, Financial SecretaryLeah Bradford, Corresponding Secretary
Leah Bradford, Recording SecretaryTyra Murry, Treasurer
Zacoyia Adkins, Chair Policies and ProceduresBaylee Alldredge, Sergeant-at-Arms
Niyana Junearick, CustodianBaylee Alldredge, Parliamentarian
Renethea Mangruem-Kimaro, Chaplain
Tamya Houston, PresidentSydney Greene, Vice President
Micah Greene, Corresponding SecretaryGamaya McEachern, Recording Secretary
Arlesha Hughes, Financial SecretaryImani Craft, Treasurer
Miya Collins, ParliamentarianJamya Geter, Sergeant-at-Arms
Rakia Bates, HistorianBreasha Sturdivant, Custodian of Properties
Breasha Sturdivant, Chaplain
Ovetta Hobson, PresidentTonita Phipps, First Vice President
Demetra Gilmore, Second Vice PresidentShelia Nash- Stevenson, Recording Secretary
Rashanda Kennamore, Corresponding SecretaryJerita Crummie, Financial Secretary
Annjeanette Walker, Assistant Financial SecretaryJenise Bradshaw, Treasurer
Tonju Samuels, Assistant TreasurerBriggitte Fletcher, Chair Internal Audit
Alexis Toney, Chair NominatingSelicia Hughes-Kidd, Journalist
K. Kelli Curry, ChaplainMichelle Hankins, CustodianMalissa Blake, Parlimentarian
Deloris Alsup-Smothers, Sergeant-at-ArmsJackie Perry, Immediate Past President
Omicron Gamma Chapter Officers
Delta DeltaChapter Officers
Huntsville AlumnaeChapter Officers
The108Founders DayFounders Dayth
Virtual Founders Day ProgramFounders Day Insert