Chapter History

Chartered on May 29, 1938 as Beta Rho Chapter

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has served the Fort Worth and surrounding communities for over 85 years – first as Beta Rho Chapter from 1938 to 1969, and as Fort Worth Alumnae Chapter from 1969 to present. The establishment of a chapter of Delta Sigma Theta in the Fort Worth community was conceived by five visionary women – Virginia Mills, Dorothy Hardin Rettig, Mabel Miller Smith, Evangeline Barnwell Morris and Valeria Allen Wilson. With the enthusiastic assistance and support of Delta Sigma Theta Grand Secretary Edna Kinchion, who at the time was a resident of Fort Worth, and the Beta Delta Chapter (now Dallas Alumnae), Beta Rho Chapter was chartered as a mixed chapter on May 29, 1938.

One of the first projects sponsored by the chapter was a camping program for indigent boys and girls during the summer of 1938. Identified by Social Workers, 12 boys and 12 girls were given the opportunity to attend “Camp Delta” for 2 weeks each. Other early projects of the 1940s and 1950s included the Annual Jabberwock to raise funds to award scholarships to outstanding graduating high school and college girls and an annual Christmas party for orphan children at the Children’s Museum and Planetarium where surprise gifts were presented to each orphan. Other notable accomplishments and projects throughout the years include: the adoption of a group of orphans at the Lena Pope Home in the 1960’s; the Black Arts Festival and teen lift programs of the 1970’s; leading the effort to rename the Poly Freeway (Highway 287) to the Martin Luther King Freeway in 1981; the inception of the Annual Sisterhood Luncheon in the 1990’s; the senior citizens project which also began in the 1990’s, and most recently, the Annual Health Summit for homeless women residents of the Union Gospel Mission which began in 2008.

The Sisterhood Luncheon established in 1990 has become one of Fort Worth Alumnae’s signature annual events. The first ten years were referred to as “Forum for the Nineties”, in which various issues that have affected African-Americans were topics for discussion. Later years included the recognition and honoring of local persons in the Fort Worth area who have made an impact in their chosen career field; as well as individuals in various genre of music and arts. Today, the Sisterhood Luncheon focuses on topics and/or addresses issues which fall within Delta Sigma Theta’s Five Point Programmatic Thrust: Economic Development, Educational Development, International Awareness and Involvement, Physical and Mental Health, and Political Awareness and Involvement.

Fort Worth Alumnae has hosted numerous well-known Deltas and other celebrities, including Founder Myra Davis Hemmings and The Hemmings Players for one of the Jabberwock Programs during the mid-1940s; Texas Senator Barbara Jordan for Founders Day 1971; Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, guest speaker for FWA’s 50th Anniversary in 1988; Actor Charles S. Dutton, guest speaker for Sisterhood Luncheon in 2009; Dr. Julienne Malveux, guest speaker for The Annual Sisterhood Luncheon in 2011, and welcomed Howard Hewett, former lead singer of Shalamar as the chapter celebrated it’s Diamond Jubilee in 2013.

Today, Fort Worth Alumnae continues its long-standing tradition and mission of service to the community through Delta Sigma Theta’s Five Point Program Thrust: Economic Development, Educational Development, International Awareness and Involvement, Physical and Mental Health, and Political Awareness and Involvement. On-going programs include Delta Academy, Delta GEMS, Miss Jabberwock Scholarship Presentation, Senior Citizens Project, Annual Sisterhood Luncheon, Voter Registration, “Get The Vote Out” Programs, and the Barbara Jordan Essay Competition. In addition, Fort Worth Alumnae supports the local arts by supporting Fort Worth’s only African American Theatre, the Jubilee Theatre through volunteerism and our annual “Delta Day at Jubilee”.

Fort Worth Alumnae has a current membership of over 250 committed members who individually and collectively work to serve and enhance the Fort Worth and surrounding communities through service, leadership and empowerment.

Chapter Service Area: Fort Worth, Benbrook, Crowley, Everman, Forest Hill, Mansfield and the County of Tarrant.