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South Belt Houston Chapter History

In the late 1980s, African-American families in Southeast Houston’s suburban communities witnessed and enjoyed the increasing diversity in their communities. But they soon identified a growing need – a concerted effort to align with other African-American families who shared like interests in enhancing their children’s cultural and social awareness. 

From their desire evolved the Concerned Parents of Sage Glen, a group whose focus was to provide a channel through which to educate their children about their rich heritage and give them a place to display and refine their talents.

 

One parent, Josephine Turner, had an idea to heighten and provide more structure to the group’s efforts. Her sights were set on the progressive Jack and Jill of America organization. In the first half of 1990, Josephine rallied the support and interest of fellow mothers in the Concerned Parents of Sage Glen to set the wheels in motion toward establishing a local Jack and Jill Chapter.

South Belt Houston Chapter Charter Members, 1992

By the fall of 1990, a defined group of visionaries had joined Josephine. Their application to organize a chapter had been accepted by National Vice President Emma Jackson, and with the Clear Lake/Bay Area Chapter of Jack and Jill as their sponsoring chapter, the ladies were on a determined path to establish a new chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.

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The Provisional Group continued to work diligently toward becoming a chapter. By early 1992, the mothers of the provisional group were becoming more visible locally and nationally. And on October 24, 1992, the South Belt Provisional Chapter was installed as the South Belt Chapter of Jack and Jill. In 1998, the Chapter's name, South Belt, was changed to South Belt Houston to clearly define the chapter’s geographical location. 

 

The South Belt Houston Chapter has always proactively fulfilled the needs of the community by providing cultural, civic, educational, social and recreational activities for its children and supporting organizations such as the March of Dimes, Star of Hope, United Negro College Fund, Hester House, the Salvation Army, Southeast Area Ministries, Project Rowe Houses, Manda Ann Convalescent Home, Kuumba House, the Furniture Bank, Boys and Girls Harbor, the Women’s Home, The Posse Foundation and many others.

 

Today, the South Belt Houston Chapter of Jack and Jill of America is firmly grounded in the goals first established by our charter members – to give tirelessly of our time and talent in serving our community, and to remain focused on building our children’s character and refining their cultural, social, educational and leadership opportunities.

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South Belt Houston Charter Members

  • Josephine Turner (Coordinator)

  • Mattie Adelaja

  • Janice Arceneaux

  • Gevenia Bradford

  • Margie Brown

  • Gerrie Brown

  • Patricia Bynum

  • Sherald Davis

  • Shirley Demerson

  • D’Voria Gosey

  • Sandra Hall

  • Stephanie Hawley

  • Anita Henson

  • Betty Hunter

  • Shirley Jackson

  • Jacqueline Johnson

  • Dianne Kirven

  • Bernice Mays

  • Joyce Nesby

  • Shirley Russell

  • Dorothy Stephens

  • Rachal Watkins

  • Janice Warner

  • Terri Wells

South Belt Houston Chapter Presidents

  • Josephine Turner, 1992-1994

  • Betty Hunter,1994-1996

  • Gevenia Bradford,1996-2000

  • Jacqueline Johnson, 2000-2004

  • Lesa Rice-Jackson, 2004-2006

  • Fran Mayes, 2006-2008

  • Marcella Forman, 2008-2010

  • Shanda Dixon, 2010-2012

  • Sandie Cowan, 2012-2016

  • Angela J. Hudson, 2016-2018

  • Shantell D. Brown, 2018-2020

  • D'Andrea Virgil, 2020 - 2022

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South Belt Houston Chapter Mothers
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