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Wanda Terrell-Galloway, event chairman, opened the program
by delivering warm greetings. “Thank you too all of my
sorority sisters who helped to make this a success, and I
salute our hard working president, Angela Siner. We are
definitely Delta proud today in our Delta red.”
The features of this program include the scholarship
acknowledgements, fashion show and announcement of the
mother of the year. “Today we will honor four ladies for
their outstanding academic excellence, and of course the
mother of the year. I urge everyone to come back next year
and support academic excellence,” explained Siner.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc, Toledo Alumnae chapter,
awarded three scholarships in the amount of $1,500 each.
Jada M. Boles, graduating senior of Toledo School of the
Arts maintains a 3.7 GPA, plans to attend Point Park
University of Marymount Manhattan and pursue a dance major
and minor in business. Ryonna Birchfield, graduating senior
of Notre Dame Academy, maintains a 3.8 GPA, plans to attend
Kent State University and major in business and
entrepreneurship. Daijah Blackburn, graduating senior of
Rogers High School maintains a 3.8 GPA and plans to attend
Spelman College while majoring in economics and
communications.
Taylor E.B. Coleman, graduating senior of Central Catholic
High School, plans to attend Kent State University and
pursue a degree in journalism. She earned the Bobbie Burks
Gilmore Book Scholarship for $500.
The 2016 mother of the year was State Senator Edna Brown,
who was surrounded by family and friends during the reading
of her bio. Traditionally the announcement is a surprise for
one mother in the audience. “It feels extra special,
particularly since I didn’t know anything about it. My
brother told me a few weeks ago that he had purchased
tickets for the breakfast, which I have attended on several
occasions. I had no idea that I was selected, biggest
surprise ever in my life,” explained Brown.
Brown was born and raised in Toledo, graduated from Whitney
High School and received a bachelor’s degree from Mary Manse
College. Brown worked for the City of Toledo Natural
Resources Department for 32 years, served as Toledo City
Council member for six years, Ohio House of Representatives
member for eight years, and was sworn into office on January
3, 2011 as the first African-American to represent the city
of Toledo in the State Senate. She is a long-time member of
Braden United Methodist Church, was married to the late
Willie Brown for 40 years, has three children, six
grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
“The expression on my mom’s face was priceless, totally
priceless. We kept this secret, and it wasn’t easy. She’s a
wonderful mother, grandmother, and mentor. She instills
education into her family and we have taken it to heart,”
said Kathy Dadzie, Brown’s daughter.
The history of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. dates back to
1913 when 22 women on the campus of Howard University
chartered the sorority. Currently over 250,000 women are
members. Toledo Alumnae chapter was established in 1973.
The 2016-2017 officers: Angela Siner, president; Jacquelyn
Jones, PhD, first vice president; Stacy Jackson-Jones,
second vice president; Meiuttenun Brown, PhD, corresponding
secretary; Jazmeika Spinks, recording secretary; Tonia Pace,
PhD, treasurer; Tiffany Hairston, PhD, financial secretary;
and Cheryce Burton, assistant financial secretary.
Breakfast committee chairs: Wanda Terrell-Galloway,
chairperson; Kaylene Miller, souvenir program; Sandy Strong,
door prizes; Trevor Black, decorations; Bessie Mack,
publicity; Bonita Johnson, vendors; Cheryce Burton,
financial coordinator; ticket committee Sue Fletcher, Billie
Lothery, and Sandy Strong; mother of the year committee
Billie Lothery, Bessie Mack, and Theresa Wilkins;
scholarship committee Cheryce Burton, Stacey Jackson-Jones,
and Shannon Tisdale.
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