List of Zeta Phi Beta members

Zeta Phi Beta was founded in 1920, on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C.^[1] The sorority was incorporated in Washington, D.C., on March 30, 1923. In 1939, the sorority was incorporated in Illinois.^[2] Below is a list of some of the notable members of Zeta Phi Beta sorority.

Founders and Incorporators

Name Original chapter Notability References Arizona Cleaver Stemons Alpha Founder [1] Joanna Houston Alpha Incorporator [2] Josephine Johnson Alpha Incorporator [2] Pearl Neal Alpha Founder [1] Fannie Pettie Watts Alpha Founder [1] O. Goldia Smith Alpha Incorporator [2] Myrtle Tyler Faithful Alpha Founder [1] Viola Tyler Goings Alpha Founder [1] Gladys Warrington Alpha Incorporator [2]

National Presidents

• Arizona Cleaver Stemons (1920)
• Myrtle Tyler Faithful (1921–1922)
• Joanna Houston Ransom (1922–1923)
• Nellie A. Buchanan (1923–1925)
• Dr. S. Evelyn Lewis (1925–1926)
• Ruth Tappe Scruggs (1926–1930)
• Fannie R. Givens (1930–1933)
• Violette Neatley Anderson (1933–1937)
• Nellie B. Rogers (1937–1939)
• Edith Lyons (1939–1940)
• Blanche Thompson (1940–1943)
• Lullelia W. Harrison (1943–1948)
• Nancy B. Woolridge McGhee (1948–1953)
• Deborah Cannon P. Wolfe (1953–1965)
• Mildred Carter Bradham (1965–1970)
• Isabel M. Herson (1970–1974)
• Janice G. Kissner (1974–1980)
• Edith V. Francis (1980–1986)
• Eunice S. Thomas (1986–1992)
• Jylla Moore Foster Tearte (1992–1996)
• Barbara West Carpenter (1996–2002)
• Barbara C. Moore (2002–2008)
• Sheryl P. Underwood (2008–2012)
• Mary Breaux Wright (2012–2018)
• Valerie Hollingsworth Baker (2018–2022)
• Dr. Stacie N. C. Grant (2022–present)

Civil rights

Name Original chapter Notability References Autherine Lucy Foster Plaintiff in the U.S. Supreme Court case styled Lucy v. Adams which prevented the University of Alabama from denying admission solely based on race or color. [3] Anita Hill Honorary Attorney, law professor, and civil rights activist; plaintiff in sexual harassment case vs. Clarence Thomas [4] Violette Neatley Anderson First woman of color to practice law before the US Supreme court [5] Pat Spencer Civil rights activist; helped to organize the Montgomery Bus Boycotts [6]

Autherine Lucy Foster Anita Hill

Education

Name Original chapter Notability References Stella Brewer Brookes Epsilon Zeta Former chair, Department of English at Clark Atlanta University Alice Dugged Cary Beta First president of The Auburn Avenue Research Library in Atlanta, Second president of Morris Brown College, former State Chairman of the Colored Woman's Committee, and former president of the Georgia State Federation of Coloured Women, established the first free black kindergarten in Macon, GA and Charleston, SC [7][page needed] Sarah Green Nu Xi Zeta Former Chief Executive Officer of The National Head Start Association [8] Lucy Harth Smith One of the first women appointed to the executive council of The National Association for The Study of Negro Life and History; Educator, writer and activist who worked to challenge inequality in the Kentucky public school system [7] Elizabeth Koontz First African-American President of the National Education Association, former Director of the Women’s Bureau Elmira Mangum Kappa Epsilon Zeta Former President of Florida A&M University;The first woman to permanently hold the position in the 128-year history of the university Linda Royster Beito Iota Eta Chair, Department of Social Sciences at Stillman College Anita Turpeau First woman on the debate team at Howard University, first woman Editor-In-Chief of The Hilltop, the first woman at Howard University to receive a master of arts degree in religious education [9] Lulu Vere Childers Founder and director of the School of Music at Howard University [7]

Elizabeth Duncan Koontz Alice Dugged Cary

Science and health

Name Original chapter Notability References Evelyn J. Fields retired Rear Admiral; former NOAA Director with Marine and Aviation Operations [5] Lillian E. Fishburne The first African-American female to hold the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy Monica “Dr. Moe” Frazier Anderson Nu Iota author, journalist, motivational speaker, and Doctor of Dental Surgery [10] Rachel Hill Townsend The first native African woman to enter the field of dentistry [7][page needed] Marjorie Joyner The first African-American woman to receive a patent; The first African American to receive their A.B. from Molar Beauty School in Chicago; Inventor, Philanthropist [7]

Evelyn J. Fields Lillian E. Fishburne Dr. Monica mOe Frazier Anderson

Authors and artists

Name Original chapter Notability References Kathleen Mary Easmon Simango Honorary First African-American woman to earn a diploma from the Royal College of Arts; Singer, Dancer, Opera Singer, Fannie Rosalind Hicks Givens Started the first Art program for African American students at the State University- Louisville; served as president of the World Union of Colored Women for Peace and International Concord, and chair of the Fine Arts department of the National Association of Colored Women [11] Linda Goss First African-American storyteller to receive a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment of the Arts; Storyteller, Author; co-founder of the National Association of Black Storytellers Zora Neale Hurston Alpha American folklorist and author during the time of the Harlem Renaissance, best known for her 1937 novel Their Eyes Were Watching God

Zora Neale Hurston

Entertainers

Name Original chapter Notability References Tatyana Ali Honorary Actress (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) and singer [12] Rhona Bennett Honorary Actress (The Jamie Foxx Show) and singer (En Vogue)[13] Towanda Braxton Omicron Gamma Singer and television personality (Braxton Family Values) [14] Traci Braxton Omicron Gamma Singer, television personality (Braxton Family Values), and radio personality [15][16] Grace Bumbry Opera singer [5] Ellabelle Davis Musician and opera singer [7][page needed] Ja'net DuBois Honorary Actress and singer [5] Lillian Evanti Honorary Opera singer;The first African American to sing with an organized European opera company; The first African American to sing grand opera professionally [17] Vivica A. Fox Honorary Actress Leela James Honorary Singer and television personality (R&B Divas: Los Angeles) [12] Syleena Johnson Lambda Epsilon Singer [5] Chaka Khan Honorary Grammy-winning singer/musician Dawnn Lewis Honorary Actress Dawnette Lounds-Culp Author, talk radio show host Minnie Riperton Honorary Singer, songwriter [5] Esther Rolle Honorary American actress best known for her portrayal of Florida Evans on the CBS television sitcom Maude and its spin-off series Good Times [5] Tonea Stewart Epsilon Beta American actress and university professor best known for her role as Aunt Etta on the television series In the Heat of the Night. [5] Angie Stone Honorary Singer and television personality (R&B Divas: Atlanta) [12] Lou Swarz Xi Zeta Actress, journalist, beauty consultant, radio show host, and teacher [18] Sheryl Underwood Zeta Tau Zeta Comedian and 23rd International President of Zeta Phi Beta [5] Sarah Vaughan Honorary Jazz singer [5] Dionne Warwick Singer [5]

Dionne Warwick Esther Rolle Lillian Evanti Sarah Vaughan Minnie Riperton

Athletes

Name Original chapter Notability References Amber Campbell 3 time Olympian hammer thrower Camille Cooper Epsilon Kappa professional basketball player (WNBA) Rhyne Howard Iota Mu professional basketball player (WNBA) Flora Hyacinth Iota Eta Olympian Track & Field Athlete for the USVI Lillie Leatherwood Iota Eta 2-time Olympic Medalist: Gold (1984), Silver (1988) in 4X400-meter relay Wendy Palmer Tau Theta former professional basketball player (WNBA) Chantel Tremitiere Gamma Xi former professional basketball player (WNBA) DeMya Walker Tau Theta professional basketball player (WNBA) Mistie Williams Nu Omicron professional basketball player (WNBA)

Mistie Williams

Politicians

Name Original chapter Notability References Julia Carson US Representative from Indiana [5] Joan Carter Former Petersburg, VA city councilwoman [5] Bernice B. Donald Alpha Eta Zeta First African-American woman elected to the Tennessee Judiciary Charlotte Spann Director, Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of the Interior. [19] Donna Edwards Honorary Former Member of Congress [20] Bernette Johnson First black female State Supreme Court justice in Louisiana [5] Sydney Kamlager The second African American woman elected president of the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Board of Trustees Mary McAllister NC House of Representatives [5] Yvonne Miller Former Virginia State Senator - District 5 [5] Edith S. Sampson The first woman to receive a Master of Laws degree from Loyola University;The 2nd African-American woman admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of the United States, following Violette N. Anderson; The first African-American delegate to the United Nations;The 1st African-American woman elected judge on the municipal court Christale Spain University of South Carolina Chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party [5] Beatrice Welters Nu Xi Zeta US Ambassador to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago [8] Cynthia Willard-Lewis New Orleans City Councilwoman [5] Sharon R. Wilson Former Chief Magistrate and President of The Senate of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas [21][22] Deborah Wolfe Former U.S. Education Chief, U.S. House of Representative committee on Education and Labor, and Chairperson of the New Jersey Board of Higher Education [5]

Edith S. Sampson Julia Carson Yvonne Miller Bernice B. Donald

Community leaders

Name Original chapter Notability References Adelaide Casely-Hayford Honorary Established a school for girls in 1923 to instill cultural and racial pride during the colonial years under British rule; Activist for cultural nationalism, educator, short story writer, and feminist Elizabeth Fouse Founder of the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA; former president of the Kentucky Association for Colored Women; social activist Freddye Henderson The first black woman to own a travel business in the U.S. [7][page needed] Nettie Napier Honorary African American women's rights activist Rev. Lucille C. Norville-Perez M.D. Nu Xi Zeta President and CEO of The Cave Institute [8] Elisabeth Omilami Honorary Human rights activist and CEO of Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless [20] Ophelia Settle Egypt Alpha Social Worker and pioneer in family planning among economically disadvantaged African American families [7][page needed] Annie Turnbo Malone The first black woman millionaire;Business owner, inventor, and philanthropist [7][page needed] Maggie Lena Walker Honorary the first female bank president to charter a bank in the United States Sallie Wyatt Stewart The first African American woman to hold an office in the National Council of Women. The only black delegate sent to the International Council of Women in Vienna, Austria in 1930

Adelaide Casely-Hayford Maggie Lena Walker (1864–1934) of Richmond, Virginia, first woman to form a bank in the United States

Television, radio, and media

Name Original chapter Notability References Danielle Belton Delta Kappa Editor in chief at The Root; Blogger and creator of Black Snob [23] Clara McLaughlin President and CEO, East Texas Television, First African-American woman to own and operate a television station. [24]