Phi Tau Omega HerStory

 

July 1999 witnessed the dawning of a quest: the formation of The Pearls of Vision 2000 Interest Group. It consisted of twenty highly motivated and determined members, determined “By Merit and Culture” to become an arm of the first American Greek-letter organization, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. The twenty members worked diligently and preserved. As The Pearls of Vision 2000 Interest Group, members fostered and implemented the beliefs of the sorority. As it had always been the conception of the group, a need to improve the educational, social, and economic conditions of many existed in the Hapeville/South Fulton Community.

On January 20, 2001, thirty-three proud, eager, and just as determined ladies stood as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated agreed that the quest had been realized. In so doing, The Pearls of Vision 2000 Interest Group was chartered as Phi Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the first Greek-letter organization in Hapeville.

The Phi Tau Omega thirty-three chartering members were:

Suphonda Brown Kristy Butler Saletria Cail Diedrienne Childs Etha Dixon * Jill Doctor Annette Dotson Avonia Elliott * Mia Evans Sandra Evans-Phillips Onetha Hollinshead *

Mellonee Houston-Willis Barbara King Rogers Brenda Gail Lundy Miriam Morris Mildred M. Taylor Angel Parks Shewanda Patillo Alisa Raglin Judith Revere Rosa Lumpkin Roberts Mary Joyce Robinson

Lillie Saulsbury La-Toy Scott Sabrina Sims Valorie K. Stokes Lorraine Touchstone Mary Lynn Watkins* Tamla Watkins Eddie Mae Weldon Elva Wheeler Jeanette Whittenburg Anna Woodard

* Deceased

The first officers of the new chapter were:

 

President 1st Vice-President 2nd Vice-President Secretary Assistant Secretary Corresponding Secretary   Financial Secretary   Treasurer Chaplain

Annette Dotson Shewanda Pattillo Rosa Lumpkin Roberts Tamla Watkins Eddie Mae Weldon Suphonda Brown Angel Parks Saletria Cail Avonia Elliott *

Chapter Hostess Keeper of the Door Historian Co-Historian Ivy Leaf Reporter Parliamentarian Custodian Member-at-Large

Mildred Murray Brenda Gail Lundy Lorraine Touchstone Mary Lynn Watkins* Jill Doctor Elva Wheeler Judith Revere Lillie Saulsbury

On June 8, 2003, Phi Tau Omega Chapter welcomed forty-four lovely ladies into the bonds of sisterhood. These ladies affectionately became known as The Historical 44.

The first initiates of Phi Tau Omega Chapter were:

Shayla J. Belton Madeliene A. Bolden Sharonda L. Brown Trellanee M. Brown Tameka R. Cheney Aletha R. Cherry Misty M. Crayton Doris C. Elliott Kimberly C. Elliott Sonya B. Floyd Stacy Forbes Ternica C. Fort Maya P. Francis Cedella Ceci Gary

Norise R. Greene Tina D. Greene Greta R. Hall Sandra Hall Darnita M. Henry Erika N. Hollinshead Fantara J. Houston Jennifer M. Jackson Chjame Jones Jamila S. Jones Millini M. Knox Elizabeth E. Lee Letitia L. Lewis Brandeis J. Malbrue

Rotesha McConico Angel McMillan Bernice Moore Nicole C. Porter Florence M. Reynolds Wanda Robins Jalon D. Ross Mildred L. Skipwith-Drayton Janice S. Smith Keri Strauss Raquel Terrell -Lovette Chlangraia Turner -Miller Dasia K. Webster JaNay O. Wilborn Veronice Wright Audrea R. Young

 

On June 11, 2006, Phi Tau Omega Chapter brought 35 young women into their divine sisterhood. These young women were known as the 35 Impenetrable Pearls.

Linda Ausby-Barlow Wendy Brunson Stacey Bryant-King Angel Clark Tamara Combs Stephenia Cook CaSondria Cunningham Teresa Dewberry Kristen Dixon Tonya Fort Catherine Foster-Rowell Gia Hall

Rashidah Hardwick Tonya James Erica Johnson Monique Johnson Angela Jones LaKeisha Jones Danielle Maxwell Temeka McLain Erin Mitchell Lenora Mitchell Chasity Mosley Diana Nichols-Clements

Stephanie Peay Ashlie Perry Chevonne Pitts Tenechia Platt Leslie Purifoy Sherron Reese Shaheedah Sharif Shafon Shelton Kenyetta Thigpen Tarla Varnum Simone Williams

 

The first recipient of the Onetha Hollinshead Scholarship was honor student Chastity Stinson, who was the first member of The Pretty Pearls Dance Troupe to graduate from high school.

Phi Tau Omega members continue to be enthusiastic, determined, and eager as ever to participate actively in the mission of sisterhood of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

The growth of the chapter has allowed the service projects to expand and flourish. As the original service projects continue, others have been added. Service projects by Phi Tau Omega Chapter now include:

•  Monthly enrichment program for male students at Creekside High School

•  Monthly contributions to the Teaching Museum South in Hapeville contribute to the summer camp fund for needy children

 • Annual Christmas Project provides for selected needy families with food and gifts

•  Bi-Yearly Hapeville Happy Days Festival is held in the Spring and Fall in conjunction with the City of Hapeville

•  Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer ® of Atlanta 5K Walk

•  Annual Thanksgiving Basket Celebration provides for selected needy families the makings of a Thanksgiving Day meal with all the trimmings

•  Annual Pearls and Gems Pageant , a major fundraising activity, assists the chapter in its effort to continue to serve the community's needs

•  Annual Onetha Hollinshead Scholarship is named in honor of our chartering soror

The goal of Phi Tau Omega is to help mankind as we continue to grow and expand our community services to the Hapeville/South Fulton County area, including Fairburn, Palmetto, and Union City. We pledged to join hands with the over 900 other chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated to carry out the mission of service to mankind. Phi Tau Omega is committed to making a significant contribution to the community it serves, to our beloved organization, and to the fulfillment of the mission of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. For we know there’s no other/Like our sisterhood…