About Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was organized on November 12, 1922, in Indianapolis, Indiana by seven young educators: Mary Lou Allison Little, Dorothy Hanley Whiteside, Vivian White Marbury, Nannie Mae Gahn Johnson, Hattie Mae Dulin Redford, Bessie M. Downey Martin, and Cubena McClure.  Sigma Gamma Rho’s commitment to service is expressed in its slogan, “Greater Service, Greater Progress.” The sorority has a proud history of offering service wherever chapters exist, including OPERATION BigBookBag, a program designed to address the needs, challenges, and issues that face school-aged children who are educationally at-risk in local homeless shelters and extended care hospitals. The objective is for chapters to provide their local homeless shelters and children’s hospitals with educational materials, equipment, and supplies. Other national projects include Wee Savers, Project Reassurance, and Habitat for Humanity, Sigma Gamma Rho built seven homes across the United States in Florida, District of Columbia, Wisconsin, California, and Texas.

 

The service of Sigma Gamma Rho from a global perspective includes Project Africa and Project Mwanamugimu. Through active participation in programs and through networking with other organizations such as the National Council of Negro Women, Urban League, and the NAACP, Sigma’s legacy of service to improve the quality of life for all mankind continues.

 

For more information about the history of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. go to www.sgrho1922.org.

The Elegant Eta Sigma Sigma Alumnae Chapter History

The Eta Sigma Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was chartered Thursday, August 12, 1993 during a chartering ceremony officiated by Southeastern Region Syntaktes Soror Ann Broughton.  Its charter was the culmination of efforts led by Soror Phillis Jones Kirk who was then serving as Basileus of the Xi Sigma Chapter in neighboring Spartanburg, South Carolina. The ten charter members of the Eta Sigma Sigma Chapter, inclusive of seven former members of the Xi Sigma Chapter, are:

 

Lula Thompson, Basileus
Catherine Allen, Anti-Basileus
Gladys Barksdale, Grammateus
Vilvin Garrison, Anti-Grammateus
Diane Leonard, Tamiochus

Gabriella Robinson, Epistoleus
Lori Robinson, Parliamentarian
Teresa Floyd, Chaplain
Phillis Jones Kirk, Member
Robbin Goldsmith, Member

By the end of its charter year, the Eta Sigma Sigma Chapter’s membership had grown to a total of thirteen with the transfer of three recent graduates:  Carmelia Johnson and Bridget Austin, graduates of Lander University, and Jennifer Hope Robinson, a graduate of Winthrop University.

Since its chartering, the Eta Sigma Sigma Chapter has experienced consistent growth which has allowed it to advise members of both the Mu Psi Chapter at Clemson University and the Nu Chi Chapter at Lander University for more than 20 years.

To increase its ability to effectively serve its community, Eta Sigma Sigma chartered its Rhoer Club Affiliate May 26, 2012 and its Philo Affiliate December 17, 2017.  The Eta Sigma Sigma Rhoers and Philos have consistently worked and continue to work alongside the Eta Sigma Sigma Sorors to do work in furtherance of the mission of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. in the Greater Greenville community.

Meet the Elegant Eta Sigma Sigma Alumnae Chapter
Executive Board

Basileus – Soror Kendra McKinney

1st Anti-Basileus – Soror Bridget Austin-Calhoun

2nd Anti-Basileus/Mu Psi Advisor – Soror Joscelyn Behlin

3rd Anti-Basileus/Nu Chi Advisor – Soror Alicia Smith

Grammateus – Soror Tanesha Sullivan

Anti-Grammteus – Soror Tequilla Richardson

Tamiochus – Soror Panessa Dean

Epistoleus – Soror Jasmine McCarroll

Parliamentarian – Soror Tanisha Latimer

Chaplain – Soror Brandisha Briggs

Rhoer Advisor – Soror Toya Moore

Philo Advisor – Soror Livell Paul

Webmistress – Soror Lakeira Nelson