The Beginning (1935-1960)

The Xi Zeta chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was organized as a chapter in the sorority’s West Central Region on December 5, 1935 in Saint Louis, Missouri. The five charter members were Sorors Bernice Bolar, Hattie Gilliam, Juanita O’Crey Palmer, Lou Swarz, and Lucille Ogden Alexander. The chapter was organized at St. Louis’ Poro Building, which was owned by Annie Turnbo Malone, a hair care entrepreneur who was one of the wealthiest Black women in the country at the time. Malone would go on to become an honorary member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority some years later.

Xi Zeta’s first intake took place on February 5, 1936, exactly two months after the chapter was established, with the initiation of twelve women. The chapter’s first members included educators, musicians, writers, and a dramatic artist who would go on to star in some of the first films that featured African Americans in speaking roles. Within weeks of being organized, the women of Xi Zeta immediately demonstrated the sorority’s commitment to service by hosting Finer Womanhood Week activities. The chapter’s first Finer Womanhood events included a dramatic recital and a “supper with greek friends,” attended by representatives from other sororities. During that same year, the Xi Zeta Chapter was formally presented to St. Louis at a dance hosted by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.

Under the leadership of Xi Zeta’s first President, dramatic artist Soror Lou Swarz, the chapter was quickly recognized as one of the premier service organization’s among local Greek letter chapters in St. Louis. Xi Zeta became involved with the Dickson Center, a recreational center for children, and in 1937, Xi Zeta began making financial donations to the center and directing many of its educational and extracurricular activities. After learning that the center was facing the threat of closure, Xi Zeta purchased the Dickson Center in 1940 and took over the center’s programming and activities. In 1943, after a larger neighborhood center began offering similar recreational programming to Black residents, Xi Zeta sold the Dickson Center and moved its programming and activities to the newer building. The chapter furnished a nursery in the building, where Xi Zeta Soror and renowned artist Jesse Housley added murals. (Just two years earlier, Soror Housley had painted a 38-foot mural at the city’s Scottish Rite Temple. That mural was dedicated by then Senator and later President, Harry S. Truman.)

Xi Zeta’s commitment to service was extended to military members and their families during World War II. Similar to many St. Louis businesses that converted their efforts to support the war, Xi Zeta assisted soldiers and their families at Jefferson Barracks by providing entertainment events and volunteering to assist with U.S.O. efforts.

Under a national re-organization in 1944, Xi Zeta moved from the sorority’s West Central Region to the West Southwest Region, and one year later, Xi Zeta was the host chapter when the sorority’s 25^th national Boulé was held in St. Louis. The Xi Zeta-hosted Boulé became the first national convention to honor the sorority’s five founders. In 1953 the West Southwest Region would become the Midwest Region, a name given by the region’s Director – Xi Zeta Soror Lucille Nelson Richardson. Soror Richardson would become the first Xi Zeta Soror to hold the title of Regional Director. Though the region’s name would ultimately change one more time to the Midwestern Region, Xi Zeta remains a member of the region today.

In the 1950s, LaCheerios, a program that was initially created by Soror Swarz, became a national program of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. When Xi Zeta initially launched the effort two decades earlier, it was called Cheer Up Showers, and focused on visiting and providing cards and flowers to those in hospitals, institutions, or who were home-bound and shut-in. Though the name changed when it became a national program, it continued to be championed by Soror Swarz, and by Xi Zeta.

1960-1980

During the 1960s, Xi Zeta Sorors participated in the refurbishing of Birch Haven, the sorority’s summer cottage that had been gifted to the organization by the 8^th Grand President, Soror Violette Anderson. The chapter also began to visit and mentor girls from Meramec Hills, a school for troubled young women. During this time, Xi Zeta began to award camp scholarships to young women, providing the ability for those with limited financial resources to attend Y.W.C.A. camp. The sorority’s focus on young people continued with the launch of its Blue Revue, a musical contest that was held in the spring. Through the Blue Revue, Xi Zeta provided many young people with scholarships to help support their educational and musical endeavors. Among the earliest recipients was Grace Brumby, an opera singer who would go on to achieve international fame as a mezzo soprano.

In the 1970s, Xi Zeta and radio station KATZ hosted the Ear on Campus Project. Held while college students were home for Christmas break, Ear on Campus included panels of students participating in live radio broadcasts, speaking on issues that were relevant to other young people. The effort also included a mentoring component, where successful St. Louisans helped students to network and advised them on career planning. Xi Zeta established its first Stork’s Nest in 1973. The collaboration with the March of Dimes aims to increase the number of women receiving early and regular prenatal care, in an effort to prevent and reduce the number of incidents of low birth-weight babies, premature births, and infant deaths, especially among African American women. Xi Zeta’s Stork’s Nest continues to operate today, providing maternity and baby care items to expectant mothers. The 1970s also saw the chapter sponsor a “Cinderella Ball,” a formal affair that served to introduce young women to the St. Louis community. The ball was a scholarship fundraiser and was quite the talk of the town as there was a pumpkin carriage for the Miss Cinderella to enter the dance hall! It was also during this period that Xi Zeta launched its Unsung Heroes Community Service Awards Program, to honor those who work tirelessly and with little fanfare as they seek to better the St. Louis region. The program continues today, and extends to not only honor those who serve the community, but also provides scholarships to college-bound young women.

1980-2000

The 1980s and 90s saw Xi Zeta focus its efforts on making a difference in the areas of education and health among African Americans. The chapter partnered with the Basic Organization, a nonprofit that aimed to improve the lives of drug-addicted parents and their children. In addition to serving on the nonprofit’s Board, Xi Zeta led fundraising efforts for the organization. The chapter also adopted a community center and provided computer classes, speakers, interactive workshops, and a career fair for the center’s attendees. Xi Zeta’s strong focus on educational opportunities included helping to promote and tutor adult learners in their efforts to become literate, as well as participating in tutoring and counseling at the Wellston Learning Center. In 1994, the chapter provided scholarships for students to attend Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. Xi Zeta sorors also remained committed to improving health and health outcomes for African Americans. The chapter participated in the sorority’s national “Give Yourself the Gift of Health” initiative by collaborating with the American Red Cross to host a blood donation drive at the Black Expo. Xi Zeta hosted the event for 10 consecutive years, in an effort to promote the importance of blood donation by African Americans. The initiative also included a partnership with the American Lung Association’s Open Airways program. This national asthma management training program was designed specifically to help African American youth and their families in their quest to manage the disease. Xi Zeta created and facilitated a series of parent workshops as a part of the program. The American Lung Association honored Xi Zeta in 1996 for the chapter’s work with Open Airways.

The chapter was also very fortunate to be able to honor three of its charter members during a Founders’ Day celebration. Sorors Juanita O’Crey Palmer, Hattie Gilliam, and Bernice Bolar attended the event in person, where they were recognized for their groundbreaking roles in establishing Xi Zeta more than 50 years earlier.

2000-Today

At the start of the new millennium, Xi Zeta’s focus on health awareness continued, as the chapter participated in efforts surrounding diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and breast cancer. The chapter also continued to support blood drives hosted by players for the NFL’s St. Louis Rams and participated in several area Health Expos. Though the sorority’s commitment to improved health was always a priority, Xi Zeta’s mission of providing scholarships to young women took a significant leap forward with the establishment of The Zeta Charitable Foundation of St. Louis, Inc., in 2009. The Zeta Charitable Foundation awards scholarships annually to deserving young women who are seeking to further their education at a college or university. Through the Zeta Charitable Foundation, the women of Xi Zeta have so far been able to provide 29 women with scholarships totaling $30,000 to help support their dreams of higher education.

In December 2010, under the leadership of President Akella Wicker, Xi Zeta celebrated 75 years of service to the St. Louis region. The chapter hosted a luncheon at downtown St. Louis’ Hilton at the Ballpark hotel, with the theme of “Honoring the Legacy, Continuing the Dream.” The chapter recognized Soror Krishna Walker, an attorney who was instrumental in helping to establish the Zeta Charitable Foundation. The chapter also paid homage to its rich history, both with a slideshow prepared by Soror Freda Covington who shared historical photos and community programs, and also with a presentation by Soror Inez J. Giles, titled “The Way We Were.” Soror Giles was the oldest living member of Xi Zeta at the time. She had not only served as the chapter’s second President, but was also one of the eleven women who participated in the chapter’s first intake in 1936.

In 2015, Xi Zeta was among the Midwestern Region chapters to participate in a weekend of service in Hannibal, Missouri, honoring sorority Founder Arizona Cleaver Stemons, who grew up in the town. Missouri State Director and Xi Zeta chapter member Soror Jeana Hines joined the Midwestern Regional Director as well as Past International Grand President Mary Breaux Wright in marching down Hannibal’s main street alongside other sorors during a Zeta Day Parade in Hannibal. The following year, the city renamed a Hannibal park In Founder Stemons’ honor and presented the sorority with a key to the city.

Today, under the leadership of President Kellie Shelton, Xi Zeta is the largest Zeta Phi Beta graduate chapter in the state of Missouri and in the Midwestern Region. And we are serious about service! Our chapter members connect with and mentor girls through Zeta Phi Beta’s Archonettes, Amicettes, and Pearlettes auxiliaries. The Zeta Charitable Foundation continues to award scholarships that help young women to attend college. The chapter continues to run an active Stork’s Nest, promoting healthy pregnancies and supporting mothers-to-be in the process, and members annually participate in Z-PAP, the Zeta Prematurity Awareness Program where Xi Zeta members speak at local churches about the importance of prenatal care. Xi Zeta is a sponsor for an annual celebration of the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we participate in annual service projects that honor veterans, we support the March of Dimes, and we encourage blood donation.  We are proud but humbled to have been recognized for our community service with numerous awards, including being named the Midwestern Region Chapter of the Year in 2015 and 2019.

Xi Zeta today is comprised of women who are change makers in the community. Professionally, our chapter includes executives, public servants, engineers, educators, nonprofit professionals, nurses, doctors, attorneys, and beyond. Xi Zeta women proudly exemplify the founding principles of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, and our commitment to scholarship, service, sisterhood, and finer womanhood is unwavering and unrivaled. We are actively promoting positive change, building on the traditions of the past, and blazing new paths forward into the future!

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Xi Zeta Charter Members – December 5, 1935

Bernice Bolar

Hattie Gilliam

Juanita Ocrey-Palmer

Lucille Ogden-Alexander

Lou Swarz

Xi Zeta’s First Initiates – February 5, 1936

Audrey Anthony

Beatrice Cooper

Elsie Gearin

Vivian Hayes

Jeanette Irving

Inez Pegues Giles

Edith Johnson Procope

Mary Newman

Beatrice Tate

Josephine Turner

Ella Walker

Carolyn Williams

Xi Zeta members who have served as Chapter President

Lou Swarz	1935
Inez Pegues Giles	1941
Vivian Hayes	1947
Ella Walker Strawbridge	1949-1951
Lucille Nelson	1951-1953
Vivian Bolar	1953-1955
Melanie Madison	1955-1957
Carolyn Williams	1957-1959
Beatrice Cooper Bell	1959-1961
Jewel Livingston	1961-1963
Thelma Burnette	1963-1965
Bernice Bolar	1965-1966
Vera Nowlin	1966-1968
Ella Walker Strawbridge	1968-1969
Ozell Epperson	1970-1972
Hattie Gilliam	1972-1974
Freddie Tatum	1974-1976
Jennie Harrison	1976-1978
Mary Anne Tillman, M.D.	1978-1983
Edwina Lindsey	1983-1985
Ora Byrd	1985-1987
Betty Howard	1987-1990
Elece C. Dempsey	1990-1994
Sherry Brooks	1994-1996
Althea Picou	1996
Delores Lotts	1996-1998
Joylynn Pruitt	1998-2000
Charellise Coleman	2000-2003
Brenda Kelly	2003-2006
Algeretta Ellis	2006-2008
Akella Wicker	2008-2012
Jeana Hines	2012-2014
Barbara Evans Cunningham	2014-2016
Jeana Hines	2016-2018
Patricia A. Tripp	2018-2020
Kellie Shelton	2020-Present

Xi Zeta members who have served as Missouri State Director

 

Sherry Brooks	1983-1985
Madye Henson Whitehead	1986-1988
Althea C. Picou	1994-1996
Edwina Lindsey	1996-2000
Deborah Davis	2000-2002
Karla Townson	2008-2010
Jeana Hines	2014-2016
Patricia A. Tripp	2018-2020

Xi Zeta members who have served as Midwestern Region Directors

Lucille Nelson Richardson	1950-1953
Jewell Livingston	1959
Elece Dempsey	1974
Akella Wicker	2019-2022