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About Us

The idea of a Delta graduate chapter in the Western Suburbs was conceived over brown bag lunches at Irving School in Maywood, IL in 1976, by three sorors, Georgia Edwards, Denise Hendry, and Shirley Johnson. The desire to be active and committed was a difficult task for sorors, with the closest chapter to Maywood being located in Chicago. After attending a Founders Day/Rededication Ceremony held by the Chicago Alumnae Chapter, these sorors decided to do something about their desire to continue their dedicated service to the organization to which they had pledged a lifetime commitment. Upon securing the information needed to begin the process from Soror Anna Johnson Julian, who was a resident of Oak Park, IL and the 4th National President (1929-1931) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Georgia, Denise, and Shirley set out to organize the chapter.

By word of mouth Deltas from all around the western suburbs were found. These sorors came from the following communities: Maywood, Dekalb, Oswego, Sycamore, Carol Stream, Schaumburg, Broadview, Glen Ellyn, and Aurora. The core group included Sorors Denise Hendry, Georgia L.  Edwards, Shirley G. Johnson, Catherine Watson, Hazel Dandridge, Mary Wells, Katherine Hainey, Thomasine Leon, Ira Redmond, Pamela Hannon Smith, Virginia Lucas Lasenby, Murial Watkins, and C’Ella Williams.

After months of meetings, gathering data, completing numerous forms and calls to the Regional Director, Soror Barbara Curtis, authorization to be chartered was granted. The chartering ceremony was held on January 23, 1977, at the Holiday Inn in Hillside, IL. The Regional Director at that time was Soror  Bernadine Dennings. As a result of all of the correspondence being forwarded to National Headquarters from an address in Bolingbrook, IL, the original name given to the chapter was the Bolingbrook Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. However, the name was changed to The Glen Ellyn Area Alumnae Chapter (GEAAC) because this proved to be the central location of the chartering sorors.The chapter annual dues were set at $25.00 per soror. 

The first chapter officers were:

  • Theresa Jackson (President)
  • Ira Redmond (Secretary)
  • Shirley G. Johnson (Corresponding Secretary)
  • Catherine Watson (Treasurer)