Alpha Rho Zeta History
The certificate of chapter ship was awarded to Alpha Rho Zeta Chapter on May 10, 1941. Alpha
Rho Zeta Chapter was organized on April 12, 1941. The authorization to form this chapter was
given by Grand Basileus Blanche J. Thompson. The charter members were the late Sorors,
Mable Champion (Basileus), Stella T. Beasley (Anti-Basileus), Willie M. Stone (Grammateus)
Carrie Johnson (Tamias) and Mattie Smith (Chaplain). The charter location was at Alabama State
University, Montgomery, Alabama.
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The following sorors have served as Basileus of Alpha Rho Zeta Chapter: Mable Champion,
Willie M. Stone, Mattie P. Johnson, Rosie H. Burks, Maggie B. Daniels, Maggie Y. Forte, Zela S.
Evans, Bennye B. Reasor, Coatest A. Carter, Mary McCall, Goldye Nelson, Rachel Drew, Mary P.
Pryer, Bernice H. Stewart, Johnnye Witcher, Trunetta Gambles, Mary C. Fuller, Emma A. Faulk,
Joann Y. Ashley, Rosa H. McDowell, Luvenia Graham, Darwina Johnson, Valarie Satterwhite-Hill, and Waltoria Sankey. Most of these sorors served two or more terms.
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The first life members of Alpha Rho Zeta were Mary P. Preyer and Coatest A. Carter. Other life
members include Sorors Esther Duncan, Evelyn Crayton, Emma A. Faulk, April Faulk, Mary
Fuller, and Tonea Stewart. Madelyn Anderson and Susie M. Persons are golden life members.
Alpha Rho Zeta has been a leader in rendering service to the community. Through the
establishment of the Stork's Nest, many indigent mothers have been served as well as their
children. The idea of establishing a Stork's Nest was introduced to the chapter by Soror Coates
A. Carter. Soror Bernice Stewart was Basileus at this time. After much discussion, Rose Lott,
Anna S. Kennedy and Carolyn Emery visited the Stork's Nest in Selma, Alabama. A Stork's Nest
was established in Montgomery, AL on May 14, 1978. The Stork's Nest was first housed in the
Community House on Union Street. Sorors Anna Kennedy, Rose Lott, Lena Jenkins, Minnie
Dacus, Jessie Thomas, Esther Duncan, Bennye Reasor, Carolyn Emery, Shirley Dillard, Nova
Maddox, Helen McKitt, Lula McKnight, Thelma Johnson, Trunetta Gambles, Wilier German,
Catherine Jackson, Joann Ashley, Carolyn Thomas and Louvenia Graham have served happily for the longevity of the Stork's Nest in Montgomery, Alabama. Stork's Nest has received numerous grants and support from the March of Dimes Association.
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Sorors Coatest Carter, Mary Fuller, Joann Ashley and Catherine Jackson have served on the
Board of Directors of the March of Dimes. Sorors Emma Faulk, Trunetta Gambles and Nova
Maddox served on the Program Service Committee of the March of Dimes.
Alpha Rho Zeta Chapter celebrated its 50 Anniversary on Saturday, April 14, 1991, at the
Govenor House Motel and Conference Center. The Basileus was Soror Emma A. Faulk and
Soror Johnnye Witcher, was the South Central Regional Director. The speaker for the occasion
Past Grand Basileus Dr. Deborah P. Wolfe open retirement from Alabama State University in
1995, the Basileus of Alpha Rho Zeta, Soror Johnnye Witcher, moved to Accokeek, MD. Soror
Witcher also served as the State Director of Alabama and South Central Regional Director
when she was a member of Alpha Rho Zeta Chapter.
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Trunutta Gambles became the new Basileus and served the chapter until 1998. Under this
administration, the first educational grant was written in 1997 by Soror Annie L. Gantt to the
March of Dimes Foundation. The purpose of this grant was to provide the youth and young
ladies life building skills such as cooking, crafts, proper dress and other social skills of a finer
woman. Tutoring basic math, reading and language subjects also played an important role.
These activities were held at local housing authority community centers once a month.
Soror Zelia Evans house was given to Alpha Rho Zeta Chapter after her death. Zeta activities
and meetings were conducted here for several years. The Stork's Nest was operated from
the basement of the Evans' house.
Serving as officers at this time were Mary Oliver, Coatest Carter, Annie Gantt, Wilier German,
Mattie Baker, Emma Faulk, Bennye Reasor, Catherine Jackson, Rose Burks, Laura Kirkland,
Minnie Scott, Betty S. Reed, Jewel Ford, Minnie Dacus, Joann Ashley, Maude Smith, Dorothy
Peterson, and Carolyn Emery.
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Under the leadership of Soror Mary Fuller (1998-2000), the first Community Health Fair was
held at the Rufus Lewis Branch Public Library. Coordinators were Sorors Nova Maddox and
Susie Persons. On September 11, 1999, Soror Mary Fuller held Alpha Rho Zeta Chapter first
Leadership Retreat at Auburn University, Montgomery. Guest presenters were Sorors Ann
Bascomb of Tuskegee, AL and Mary Chambers-Huff of Tuscaloosa, AL. Soror Fuller also served
as the State Director of Alabama. Alpha Rho Zeta Chapter began holding its meetings at the Rufus Lewis Library during this administration. Officers during Soror Fuller's term included: Joann Ashley, Nova Maddox,
Trunetta Gambles, Brenda Phillips, Wilier German, Mattie Baker, Annie Gantt, Rose Burks,
Darwina Hatcher, Catherine Jackson, Laura Kirkland, Jessie Thomas, Bennye Reasor, Emma
Faulk, and Maude Smith.
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The Basileus of Alpha Rho Zeta Chapter, 2000 - 2004, was Soror Joann Y. Ashley. "When Zeta
Calls" became the motto of Soror Ashley's term. At this time, the Basileus of Alpha Rho Zeta
obtained a space in the conference room of the Cleveland Avenue UMCA. During the
renovation of the "Y", Soror Graham was able to get the Floyd Middle Magnet School
Community Center to hold our meetings. The chapter later moved to the Faith Center of
Metropolitan United Methodist Church. After being inactive for several years, Soror Nova
Maddox reopened the Stork's Nest in the Faith Center. At this time, the chapter requested and
received a new charter for our Stork's Nest. On Saturday, October 6, 2001, Alpha Rho Zeta
chapter hosted an open house reopening of the chapter's Stork's Nest.
Realizing the need for a permanent location to conduct meetings and activities for the chapter
and auxiliaries and house the Stork's Nest, Soror Ashley proposed the idea of purchasing a
facility. With the help of the executive board, plans were put into action. Soror Coatest Carter
was commissioned to search for a building. After much searching, the chapter purchased a
house at 3479 Norman Bridge Road, Montgomery, AL 36105. Sorors Ashley, Carter, and
Trunetta Gambles worked tirelessly to do all of the necessary paperwork to seal the deal. On
May 28, 2003, the building became the property of the chapter! Paid In Full. Pledges were made
to purchase furniture and other needed items for the house. Soror Esther Duncan purchased
three tables and two lamps for the parlor. A sectional sofa and two side chairs were donated by
Soror Tonea Stewart.
Soror Annie L. Gantt wrote the Articles of Incorporation and application for the chapter's federal
income tax exempt 501© (3) for our Stork's Nest. These were approved: corporate papers of
Incorporation June 17, 2003 and 501© (3) status on March 11, 2004. Member of the Stork's
Nest Board of Directors included: Sorors Joann Ashley, chair, Coatest Carter, Rosia McDowell,
Rebie Morris, Evelyn Williams, Annie Gantt, Carolyn Thomas, Bennye Reasor, Jessie Thomas,
Evelyn Flowers, Mary Oliver, Lula McKnight, Esther Duncan, Dorothy Peterson, Mattie Baker, and
Louvenia Graham. On Sunday April 18, 2004 we officially opened our very own Stork's Nest.
Special guests included State Director, Veronica M. Vinson, presidents of all of the Greek
organizations, and other community leaders, friends and families.
During this administration, Soror Ashley formed Collaborative Agreements and Partnerships
with the Montgomery County Public Schools Parenting Classes, the Montgomery Community
Action Headstart Agency and SKIP (Save Kids of Incarnated Parents).
As Z-Hope Chair, the Basileus has been instrumental in coordinating programs, seminars, and
workshops that have produced first and second place awards for the state, regional, and
national since its beginning. Thanks to Dr. Constance Hendricks (Soror) for writing the Z-Hope
Implementation Guide Handbook. Alpha Rho Zeta's Annual Health Fair has become one of the
biggest community activities in Montgomery.
This administration also reactivated the Sigma/Zeta Founders Day Program in 2000. Later,
chapter members worked with the Sigma's to form an annual picnic during the summers. The
Alpha Eta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity has proven to be true Brothers, assisting in all
the chapter's endeavors. A Zeta Male Network was formed with Soror Lula McKnight as chair.
Several grants were written by Soror Ashley. These grants were used to stock the Stork's Nest,
fund Z-Hope activities, health fairs, and the renovation of the Zeta House. A young woman from
one of the Parenting Classes received a scholarship for several years.
Officers were: Rosa McDowell, Susie Person, Trunetta Gambles, Lula McKnight, Ethelyn
Williams, Kiedi Jamison, Annie Gantt, Wanda Fyall, Mattie Baker, Emma Faulk, Ann Bolden, Mary
Oliver, Tonishia Sullivan, Coatest Carter, Dorothy Peterson, Madlyn Anderson, Vanessa Staples,
Mary Fuller, Linda Kennedy, Carolyn Thomas, Jenell Carter and Rebie Morris.
During the years 2004 - 2006, Soror Rosia H. McDowell became the Basileus. "Unity" was the
magic word for Soror McDowell. Many workshops, seminars and programs were held to
promote this concept and to provide Zeta sisters with unity solutions. Eight ladies became
members as a result of this bonding of the sisters. In November of 2006, Alpha Rho Zeta hosted
the State leadership Conference. This event was held at the Governor's House Motel and
Conference Center with a record breaking attendance. Soror Veronica Moore-Vinson, Alabama
State Director, Soror Vicki Hammock, South Central Regional Director, and International Grand
Basileus, Barbara C. Moore were in attendance.
Soror McDowell encouraged all members of Alpha Rho Zeta to attend their local, state, regional,
and national conferences. She worked tirelessly with the members and officers of her
administration to continue the goals and objectives that were started in the previous
administration. Officers included: Mary C. Fuller, Joann Y. Ashley, Trunetta Gambles, Louvenia
Graham, Rebie Morris, Coatest Carter, Genall Carter, Catherine Jackson, Patricia Bell, Keeanga
Speekes, Dorothy Peterson, Sharon Reed, Mattie L. Baker, Linda Kennedy, and Carolyn Thomas.
June 2006 - June 2008 marked the beginning of Soror Emma A. Faulk's third term to serve as
Basileus of Alpha Rho Zeta Chapter.
This administration held a series of leadership training seminars by introducing innovative
methods of streamlining the chapter meetings through technology. The first training seminar
was held at Peoples Baptist Church.
During the first year of Soror Faulk's 2006 term, she revamped the Finer Womanhood program
by presenting a video of the sorority's activities. This event ended with a formal ball. To more
effectively encourage leadership development among the members, Sorors Emma Faulk and
Louvenia Graham, (First Anti-Basileus), attended the 2007 ZOL Leadership Training in
Washington, DC.
The chapter hosted the South Central Regional Conference June 21-23, 2007 at the Embassy
Suites Hotel in downtown Montgomery. The Regional Marshals were Sorors Joann Ashley an;
Rosia McDowell. Soror Tommie "Tonea" Stewart and her sister, Soror Beverly Branson, were
the celebrity artists at the Opening Ceremony on Thursday night. This regional conference made
history as being one of the largest regional conferences in several years.
During the second year of Soror Faulk's administration at the State Leadership Conference in
Dothan, AL (November 16-17, 2007), Sorors Joann Ashley and Rosia McDowell were inducte;
into the Alabama Association of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Hall of Fame. Other awards
included at this time were Basileus of the year, (Soror Faulk), Chapter of the Year, First Place Z-
Hope Award, and the Largest Membership Award Plaque.
Members serving in this administration were Louvenia Graham, Rosia McDowell, Sharon Reec_
Carolyn Thomas, Catherine Jackson, Rebie Morris, Shemeka Green, Ethelyn Williams, Pamela
Tilghman, Bernice Stewart, Alexis Smith and Zella Ques Loman.
The summer of 2008 served as a time for planning the upcoming sorority year. The years 2008-
2009 proved to be a very productive term for Soror Louvenia Graham as incoming Basileus of
Alpha Rho Zeta Chapter.
Soror Graham started her term off in August by supporting the Alabama Kidney Foundation.
Montgomery Chapter annual Kidney Walk, APZ was a corporate sponsor. Sorors also
volunteered their time, service, and personal money and participated in the walk. Sorors Graharr
and Susie Persons served on the Montgomery Chapter Kidney Foundation Board of Directors.
A Zeta Round-up meeting was held during the sorority's first meeting in September. All Zetas
in the surrounding area were invited to attend.
In November of 2008, 14 sorors and 5 youths attended the state meeting in Tuscaloosa, AL.
Several churches participated in Prematurity Awareness Sunday, donated to the local food bank.
gave fruit baskets to Partner s-in-Education, G.W. Carver Senior High School, volunteered at the
Salvation Army, and participated in all Z-Hope activities. Sorors Shemeka Green and Butler
The joint Sigma/Zeta Founders Day Program was held at First Baptist Church on Ripley Street:
Sorors and Brothers with 50 or more years of service were honored. The Montgomery Pan
Hellenic Council held an AIDS Awareness Day with a run and step show. APZ Chapter's team