Zeta Omicron Omega Chapter
Kinston, North Carolina
Chartered March 19, 1955
Charter Members
Eleanor Allison * Mabel Lenhardt
Thelma Best * Bernice Lloyd
Marilyn Cogdell * Myra McLendon
Mary Danyus * Grace Murphy
Charlotte Holt * Gloria Payne
Dorethea Jenkins * Dorothy Pitt
The establishment of Zeta Omicron Omega Chapter in 1955 was the fulfillment of a long awaited dream for the Sorors of this small Eastern North Carolina community. There was not a sufficient number of Sorors in Kinston to meet the requirements for a chapter, and consequently, the Kinston Sorors originally joined with Sorors from Goldsboro, whose Epsilon Phi Omega chapter was chartered in 1952. When the number of Sorors increased, it was agreed that a division of the chapter would render more effective service to the respective communities. The Sorors from New Bern, Williamston, Roberson, and Morehead City, joined the Sorors from Kinston and formed a nucleus for Zeta Omicron Omega Chapter on Saturday, March 19, 1955. Soror Grace Matthews Pleasants, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director presided over the ceremony. The homes of Sorors Mabel Lenhardt and Marilyn Cogdell were used for the ceremony and the banquet.
From the chapter’s beginning, the major focus has been to render services that would improve the quality of living for families of African-American descent. The chapter’s efforts in the mid 1950’s and early 1960’s were reflective of the needs of the people in the areas of education, economics, employment, and health. The chapter sponsored job opportunity workshops, adult tutorial programs, clothing closets, shoe banks located in various schools, and book fairs to make available updated materials for student;s in their homes.
The continuum of health and social services has existed through the 70’s and 80’s as two of the largest state facilities for youth with special needs located n our city adjudicate juvenile delinquents and the mentally handicapped. The chapter received citations from the governor for volunteer services to these institutions from 1975 to 1985.
From 1971 to 2008, Zeta Omicron Omega has sponsored seventeen biennial Debutante Cotillions, one of the most prestigious social and culture event of Eastern North Carolina. The Sorors provide six months of training in the social graces and social deportment and exposure to a variety of cultural affairs. Each Soror serves as a mentor for each debutante, making this an enriching and rewarding experience.
Through 53 years Zeta Omicron Omega has continued to flourish and has maintained very special bonds of sisterhood with those chapters that have emerge from our sisterhood. Following the precepts of our Founders, we have established scholarship, leadership, and the pursuit of excellence as our major goals.
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