Arts without Boundaries | Becoming A Member | Lambda Epsilon Omega Foundation

Chapter History

In recognition of the need for more minority participation on the governing process of DeKalb County and the need for focused and dedicated service to the DeKalb County minority community, a group of Alpha Kappa Alpha women met early in 1975 to discuss the possibility of organizing a chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha women in DeKalb County.  The group formed an AKA interest group with Polly Meriwether Lewis serving as president. In anticipation of chartering a chapter, the group focused its main community efforts on voter registration and assistance in low income families.

On June 26, 1976, Lambda Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was chartered.  Chartering member were:  Mary Billingslea, Fannie Bivins, Gaye Blackwell, Rose Merry Brock, Maurice Dukes, Rachael Floyd, Trudy George, Joyce Godfrey, Polly Meriwether Lewis, Jeanne Manning, Kay Marks, Olivia Meeks, Earnestine Pittman, Sharon Phillips, Queen E. Rivers, Cecelia Thomas, Carolyn Tolliver, Jacqueline Urquhart, JoAnn Newby, Dorothy Wigglesworth, Patricia White, and Verna White.  The Chartering Ceremony was conducted by Regional Director Norma S. White, and was held in the parsonage of Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church.

Polly Meriwether Lewis was elected as the first president.  The primary projects for this year were voter registration, career awareness for high school students, and assistance for needy families.

During the next two years, the chapter continued to respond to local communities and expanded its career awareness to the elementary schools where a tutorial and reading program was initiated.  The Decatur Housing Project became the focal point for the many program activities, as there was an urgent need to provide support services to these residents.

In memory of our deceased sisters, the Willard G. Chambers Scholarship, the Edwina Nelson Scholarship, and the Sheila Shaw Scott Book Scholarship funds were established.

In 1985, the first DeKalb County Debutante Cotillion was presented by Lambda Epsilon Omega Chapter for young African American women as an annual fundraiser.  Over the years, more that four hundred young ladies have been presented to the greater Atlanta society.  These Debutantes and Sub-Debutantes participate in various activities.  Activities provided for them are the “Get Acquainted Tea”, Mother-Daughter Luncheon, Father-Daughter Hawks Basketball game, Cultural and Career workshops, and service projects.

Lambda Epsilon Omega’s current program areas include Partners in Education with Chapel Hill Middle School, Mentoring Program at Leslie J. Steele Elementary School, the Ivy Reading AKAdemy, East Lake Meadows senior citizens, the Family and Friends Picnic,  the Health Fair at South DeKalb Mall,  TAMNEP graduation, donations to NCNW and NAACP, UNCF, Our House Shower of Love, Consumer Economic Outreach, voter registration/education and AKA Day at the Capitol.

Lambda Epsilon Omega has had the services of seven presidents since Polly Meriwether Lewis.  They are Maurice Dukes, Earnestine Pittman, Sandra Rice, Vera Looper, Charletta Wilson Jacks and Deborah Belcher.  The current president is Ms. Peggy Lamar Smalls.

The chapter continues to grow from its twenty-two chartering member to numbers exceeding two hundred working member.  With an ever increasing and abiding love for rendering “supreme service”, Lambda Epsilon Omega Chapter looks forward to many, many years of service to her community.