Queen Alpha Chapter No.93

HISTORY OF QUEEN ALPHA CHAPTER NO. 93

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

Through the efforts of Bro. Morelee S. Frazier and Bro. Roy E. Custis, Members of Light of Elmwood Lodge No. 45 met with a group of ladies with Masonic Affiliation to form an Eastern Star Chapter in Eastwick.

They met with Bro. Roy E. Custis and Grand Deputy Matron, Sis. Ethel L. Calhoun at his home, Club Alpha was formed. They worked in club form for six months at which time enough funds were raised to start a chapter. On November 27, 1954, twenty-six ladies and Bro. Custis met at the Masonic Temple at 17^th and Diamond Street to be initiated. They worked under dispensation for one-year. Sis. Lorraine E. Custis was and still is a great inspiration. Sis. Custis was already an Eastern Star. They were presented to Deborah Grand Chapter on July 14, 1955 in Williamsport, PA and on November 27, 1955, the Grand Worthy Matron, Sis. Anna Gray and Grand Worthy Patron, Bro. Theodore Benn and their cabinet, journeyed to Eastwick at 85^th and Albertson Avenue in the Cyprian Parish Hall to make Queen Alpha Chapter No. 93 and presented the Charter.

As reflected on the charter, the Charter Members are:

Rosalyn Alexander Sallie Biggers Sussie Blount

Irma Brown Amelia Campbell Sadie Cash

Luxora Frazier Wilhelmina Hall Geraldine Harris

Adell Jenkins Elizabeth Jones Alma Lewis

Sophia Lloyd Louise Lytle Beatrice Morton

Mabel Motley Eula Patterson Lolar Peters

Lorraine Peters Helen Roberts Helen Scriber

Lucille Scriber Carrie Smith Grayce Taylor

Annie K. Tucker Roy E. Custis *Italics indicates deceased

The Officers in 1955 were as follows:

                                    Lucille Scriber              -           Worthy Matron

                                    Roy E. Custis               -           Worthy Patron

                                    Rosalyn Alexander        -           Associate Matron

                                    Luxora Frazier              -           Conductress

                                    Annie K. Tucker           -           Associate Conductress

                                    Geraldine Harris           -           Secretary

                                    Irma Brown                  -           Treasurer

The brothers of Light of Elmwood Lodge No. 45 always interceded for a home for Queen Alpha Chapter No. 93. The ECIA Hall, St. Cyprians Parish Hall, St. Barnabas Parish Hall, and finally our present home 5026 Spruce Street. In 1974, the Light of Elmwood Lodge No. 45 adopted Queen Alpha Chapter No. 93.

Throughout the years, the members of Queen Alpha Chapter No. 93 have worked hard contributing much to the Chapter, the First O.E.S. District and Deborah Grand Chapter. Bro. Emmett G. Gallashaw was the first Grand Worthy Patron from Queen Alpha Chapter No. 93 and he served from 1997 to 1999. Currently, PWP Leon A. Hayes is serving as the Grand Associate Patron.

In 1965, under the leadership of Sis. Helen Littlejohn, the first Five Point Tea was held, which has since become an annual event. Under the leadership of Sis. Freddylene Jenkins, in 1996 the tea was renamed the Helen Littlejohn Five Point Tea in honor of its founder.

In 1969, Sis. Harriet Chapman’s year as Worthy Matron, the Past Matron’s and Past Patron’s club was formed. In May 1990, the council was named after our first Matron, The Lucille Scriber Past Matron’s and Past Patron’s Council.

Sis. Rachel L. Barr and Bro. Elmwood Gunther (1990-91) established a scholarship fund. On June 23, 1993, under the leadership of Sis. Melva Brown, it was requested that the scholarship fund be renamed to the Roy E. Custis Scholarship Fund. Since the late Roy E. Custis was instrumental in setting up Queen Alpha as a Chapter and was the first Worthy Patron, it was only befitting.

Queen Alpha Chapter No. 93 has had eight sisters who have won the Queen contest at the First District Coronation Ball. Freddylene Jenkins (1985)- Matron, Bertha Irby; Florine Johnson (1987) – Matron, Phyllis Agnew; Janice Jones (1988) – Matron, Genevieve Peurifoy; Gloria Gamble (1990)- Matron, Alma Thrower; Vanessa Gaston (1996)- Matron, Freddylene Jenkins; Mona Wooden (1997) – Matron, Macy Murphy; Sharion D. Fletcher (1998) – Matron, Mamie Benson; and Rena Rice (2002) – Matron, Carol Hinton.

Our Past Worthy Matrons

                     *Lucille Scriber 1955-56                                Bertha M. Johnson     1980-81

*Rosalyn Alexander      1957                    Lena M. Keith      1981-82

*Luxora Frazier            1958                     Geraldine Whitehead 1982-83

Annie Kate Tucker       1959              Willean J. Harrell        1983-84

*Wilhelmina Hall           1960                          Geraldine Harris          Honorary

*Alma Lewis             1961                        Bertha Irby                  1984-85

Lorraine Custis     1962-63                     Julia Bryant                   1985-86

*Irma Brown                Honorary                      Phyllis A.M. Agnew   1986-87

*Nellie Prescott            1964                          Genevieve Peurifoy       1987-88

Helen Littlejohn            1965                          Claudia E. Jenkins      1988-89

Bertha G. Johnson        1966                          Alma V. Thrower       1989-90

Georgia Ann Hope       1967                           Rachel L. Barr            1990-91

Leona Johnson 1968                          Mildred E. Thrower      1991-92

*Harriet Chapman        1969                          Melva J. Brown          1992-93

Ruth Harper                 1970                           Florine Johnson            1993-94

*Lorraine Dixon           1970-71                      Etta Dawkins                1994-95

Anne M. Boykins         1971-72                     Freddylene Jenkins     1995-96

*Mary A.E. Horsey      1972-73                     Macy Murphy             1996-97

Helen Scriber             1973-74                     Mamie Benson           1997-98

Julia Barrett                  1974-75                       Marsha E. Thrower      1998-99

Mary Jennings              1975-76                      Barbara Morris             1999-00

Mary Proctor               1976-77                      Jacqueline Ragin           2000-01

*J. Ethel Jefferson         1977-78                       Carol Hinton               2001-02

Barbara Lee                 1978-79                       Carol Chatman 2002-03

J. Elizabeth Morgan      1979-80                       Vera E. DeShields      2003-04

Demits:

Nettie Watts     1955                                        Frances A. Espinosa     1985

In 1962, Sis. Geraldine Harris and Sis. Irma Brown were given Past Matrons Honors having served five consecutive years as Secretary and Treasurer.

Our Past Worthy Patrons

*Roy E. Custis             1955-62 *Walter J. Agnew, Sr   1989-90

*Roy E. Custis              1965-68       *Elmwood Gunther       1990-91

Robert Dixon, Sr.          1963-64 Charles Washington      1991-92

Robert Dixon, Sr.          1969-71 Gerald Townsell           1992-93

*James H. Lewis           1972 George Johnson            1993-94

*James H. Lewis           1976-79 Leon A. Hayes            1994-95

*George Scriber           1973, 1980    George E. Showell, Jr. 1995-96

William P. Jennings       1975 Darrell Smith               1996-98

Glenwood Bond           1981-83 George E. Showell, Jr 1998-00

Benjamin Bryant           1983-86   G. Gallashaw                2000-01

*Walter J. Agnew, Sr. 1986-87   Raymond Mitchell       2001-02

Emmett Gallashaw        1987-88     George E. Showell, Jr 2002-03

Thomas Simmons          1988-89 Robert Bradford          2003-04

Queen Alpha Chapter No. 93 has had eight husband and wife teams:

Brother and Sister Roy E. Custis

Brother and Sister Robert Dixon

Brother and Sister George Scriber

Brother and Sister William Jennings

Brother and Sister Benjamin Bryant

Brother and Sister Walter Agnew

Brother and Sister George Johnson

Brother and Sister Andre D. Fletcher

Our Honorary Members

                        *Ethel Calhoun, PGWM                       Peter Brown, PGWP

                        Evelyn B. Collins, PWM                       Ruben Collins, PGWP

                        Judith Abel Henry,GWM                      William J. Patton, PGWP

                        Pearlethia Lowery, PGWM                  William E. Satchell, PGWP

                        Edna M. Rice, PGWM                         Robert L. Smith, PGWP

                        Thelma Smith, PWM                            Lawrence Valentine, PGWP

                        Edith J. Strothers, PGWM                    Robert Washington, PGWP

                        *Thelma C. Taylor, PGWM                 Leroy C. Patience, PGWP

                        *Betty C. Valentine, PGWM                Thomas K. Vaughn, DL

                        Velma Mobley, PWM

                        Darlene V. Miller, DDGM

Elected Officers *2007-2008*
Worthy Matron	Paulette J. Bracy
Worthy Patron	Charles E. Washington
Associate Matron	Kristine Hightower
Associate Patron	Melvin L. Johnson
Conductress	Bernice Palmer
Associate Conductress	Carol Miller
Secretary	Melva Brown, PWM
Treasurer	Janice Jones
Recording Secretary	Sharion D. Fletcher, PWM
3-Year Trustee	Vanessa C. Gatson, PWM
2-Year Trustee	Mona Woodson, PWM
1-Year Trustee	Andre D. Fletcher, PWP
Appointed Officers
Christian Flag Bearer	Kimberly Reis
U.S. Flag Bearer	Pamela Logan
O.E.S. Flag Bearer	Helennia Huggins-Warner
Chaplain	Robert Bradford, PWP
Marshal East	Lisa Newmen
Marshal West	Jameela Abdullah
Sentinel	Mary Morris
Warder	Bernice V. Jones
Assistant Secretary	Dolores Ferguson
Adah	Robyn Parker
Ruth	Cheree Brown
Esther	Darlene Williams
Martha	Regina Rankin-Bryant
Electa	Lanita Smith-Shaw

Deborah Grand Chapter Officers
Past Grand Associate Patron	Leon A. Hayes, PWP
Grand Assistant Chaplain East	Lorraine A. Custis, PWM
Grand Assistant Musician	Glenwood Bond, PWP
Grand Assistant Trustee East	George E. Showell, Jr. PWP
Grand Co-Chairperson –East Public Relations	Carol L. Chatman, PWM
Past Grand Worthy Patron	Emmett G. Gallashaw, Sr

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