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NEW BERN ALUMNAE CHAPTER
DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INC.
CHAPTER HISTORY
In 1952, Frances W. Moore contacted Delta Sigma Theta National Headquarters to obtain the requirements for establishing a local chapter. A subsequent
search of the surrounding counties resulted in the location of nine sorors, a sufficient number at that time to create a new alumnae chapter.
After
approximately
one
year
of
preparation,
on
Saturday,
February
28,
1953,
Delta
Chi
Sigma
Chapter
was
chartered.
As
the
South
Atlantic
Region
was
not
to
be
established
until
1960,
officiating
the
chartering
ceremony
was
Eastern
Regional
Director
Pauline
F.
Weeden
of
Virginia.
Assisting
her
were
Dr.
Helen
G.
Edmonds,
Professor
of
History
at
NC
College
(now
NC
Central
University)
and
Soror
Jennie
D.
Taylor
of
Durham,
NC,
who
later
became
Eastern
Regional
Director.
Accompanying
them
were
Sorors
Susan
Faine,
Secretary
to
the
Regional
Director,
and
Mae
D.
Holmes,
Superintendent
of
the
Girls
Training School of Kinston, NC, later to become Dobbs School.
Delta
Chi
Sigma
was
the
first
Greek-letter
chapter
organized
in
Craven
County.
In
1958,
the
chapter
name
was
changed
to
New
Bern
Alumnae.
The
chapter presently serves the counties of Carteret, Craven, Jones, and Pamlico.
Front row (l-r): Susan Faine (visitor), Lottie M. Blair (Treasurer), Jeanette S. Hayes (Recording Secretary), Naomi W. Ryder (Parliamentarian). Second row (l-r): Polly O. Richards (Sergeant at
Arms), Jennie D. Taylor (visitor), Pauline Weeden (Director of Eastern Region), Frances W. Moore (President), Norma C. Murphy (Dean of Pledges). Third row (l-r): Ida S. Franks (Chaplain),
Annie S. Donaldson (Vice President), Dr. Helen G. Edmonds (visitor), Alease Massenberg (Corresponding Secretary).
New Bern History Publication
Please take a few moments to access and review our chapter publication, “1953-
2016: New Bern Alumnae Chapter History.” In it you will find documentation of the
chapter’s rich legacy in serving the Carteret, Craven, Jones, and Pamlico County
areas, as well as chapter contributions locally, regionally, and nationally through
the chapter’s programs and its members.
This publication covers 63 years of history. It was compiled by Carolyn Moore
Bland, a member of Delta Sigma Theta since 1949 and of New Bern Alumnae
since 1955, with the assistance of past chapter president Demetrics Davis. The
torch has now been passed to others to prepare an updated publication that will
be published on this website upon completion.
*You may access the publication by clicking on the cover image or utilizing the QR
code. Enjoy!