ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY,
INCORPORATED®
Zeta Rho Omega
THE OLDEST & LARGEST CHAPTER
SERVING BROWARD COUNTY, FL SINCE 1955
Alpha Kappa Alpha
SORORITY, INC. ®
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated ® (AKA), an international service organization, was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1908. It is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American college-educated women.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated® is comprised of more than 360,000 initiated members in graduate and undergraduate chapters located in 12 nations and territories including the United States, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Japan, Liberia, Nigeria, South Korea, South Africa and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Led by International President & CEO Danette Anthony Reed of Dallas, Texas, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, often is hailed as “America’s premier Greek-letter organization for African American women.”
For more information about the sorority, visit Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated ® online.
Chapter History
Founded on April 16, 1955, Zeta Rho Omega chapter is the oldest and largest chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in Broward County. The idea of chartering a local, Fort Lauderdale chapter began with the vision of 14 young women. These young women were led by Willard Lamar who had the initial idea of forming a chapter.
The aspiring local group worked for approximately one year organizing, finding enough members to charter and completing other necessary requirements to become a chapter. Their untiring efforts and dedication made the dream of Zeta Rho Omega Chapter, Fort Lauderdale, FL a reality on April 16, 1955. The charter members are *Gladys Cohen, *Sylvia Epps, *Jean Everett, *Parthenia Hamm, *Virginia Hamm, *Hazel Hankerson, *Daphne Harrison, *Cecelia Hayes, *Willard Lamar, *Eula Mosby, *Betty Smith, Millicent Sworn, *Gloria Talbot, and *Albertha Williams (*deceased).
During this time, the national leader of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was Arnetta G. Wallace. The South Atlantic Regional Director was Mamie Williams of Miami, FL.
The chartering of the chapter took place at the YMCA Building located on 14th Terrace in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The chartering and installation of officers took place under the direction of Regional Director Mamie Williams.
The newly formed Zeta Rho Omega Chapter began its formal meetings in various homes under the leadership of the elected president, Willard Lamar. Home meetings continued through various leadership until the late 1970s or early 1980s. At this time, the chapter began meeting at the Lincoln Park School/Complex.
Zeta Rho Omega Chapter has been an active and integral part of the community for the past 69 years. Several awards and recognitions have been received for outstanding services rendered through and by this organization. We strive to exhibit excellence in "community service" by providing "Service to All Mankind."
Since its inception, three other graduate chapters have evolved from the membership of Zeta Rho Omega. They are Kappa Kappa Omega Chapter (Pompano Beach, FL), Upsilon Xi Omega Chapter (Plantation, FL), and Chi Psi Omega Chapter (Coral Springs, FL).
Former Presidents
Willard Lamar*
1955-1956
Virginia Hamm*
1956-1957
Eula Mosby*
1957-1958
Daphne Harrison*
1959-1961
Annie Ruth Rawls
1961-1962
Rebecca Williams
1962-1963
Daphne Harrison*
1964-1965
Margaret Roach*
1966-1967
South Atlantic Regional Director 1968-1970
Barbara Gaston
1968-1969
Janie Stewart*
1970-1973
Eddie Pearl DeGraffenreidt*
1974-1975
Lucille Simms
1976-1977
Maye F. Jenkins*
1978-1979
Ruthel Hankerson*
1980-1981
Kha Dennard
1982-1983
Betty Louise Carter Smith*
1983-1985
Mildred Thomas Wilson
1986-1987
Cluster I Coordinator 1988-1990
Barbara Sutton Williams
1988-1989
Mary Singletary*
1990-1991
Delores McKinley
1992-1993
International Treasurer 2010-2014
Earlene Striggles Horne
1994-1995
Cluster I Coordinator 1998-2002
Carol DeGraffenreidt
1996-1997
Ethel Pearl Maloney
1998-2001
Patricia Carter
2002-2005
Barbara Lumpkins
2006-2007
Sylvia Sloane Jones
2008-2011
Cluster I Coordinator 2014-2018
JoeAnn Fletcher
2012-2015
Annette Johnson-Hurry
2016-2017
Jeannie B. Floyd
2017-2019
Rosalind V. Osgood
2020-2023
*Deceased