Raleigh-Wake Chapter History
In the Raleigh area, there was a perceived need for a local chapter of Jack and Jill of America. Under this need, a provisional group was organized in Raleigh, and sponsored by Mollie Huston Lee of the Durham, North Carolina Chapter, the first African-American librarian in Wake County. On June 3, 1950, in Buffalo, New York, the provisional group was voted into membership at the fifth National Convention. The Raleigh chapter was the twenty-sixth chapter representing the goals and objectives of Jack and Jill of America. This illustrious event occurred only twelve years after the inception of the National Organization. The new chapter was named Raleigh Chapter. The chapter included seventeen mothers and twenty-seven children.
The Raleigh Chapter has yielded five National Officers: Mrs. Elizabeth Cofield served as Regional Director from 1959-1963; Mrs. Harriet Webster served as Regional Director from 1977-1979; Mrs. Thelma Keck served as National Editor from 1960-1964: Mrs. Josephine Brown served as Regional Associate Member Coordinator from 1977-1979 and Mrs. Harriet Webster served as Trustee.
In 1993, Raleigh chapter had a vision to encompass all of Wake County. This vision was achieved during the leadership of Shirley Nimmons, our twenty-first president. The new boundaries garnered a new name for the chapter, Raleigh-Wake Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
In 1997, Raleigh-Wake was given the Chapter of the Year Award.
Over the years the Raleigh-Wake Chapter has committed to working with essential educational, cultural, civic, recreational, social and service programs. This commitment has fostered a connection between the members and their community. Raleigh-Wake has championed the cause of extending educational and social opportunities for families within our community. The chapter has achieved this goal for the community and the chapter by contributing to the Jack and Jill Foundation, The Raleigh Women's Center, Raleigh Boys and Girls Club, Holiday Cheer, North Carolina Museum of Art (Friends of African-American Art), Oxford Home for Children, Coat Drives, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Martin Luther King Day Community Clean-Up, scholarship founds, and the Sickle Cell Anemia Fund.
The Raleigh Chapter has yielded five National Officers: Mrs. Elizabeth Cofield served as Regional Director from 1959-1963; Mrs. Harriet Webster served as Regional Director from 1977-1979; Mrs. Thelma Keck served as National Editor from 1960-1964: Mrs. Josephine Brown served as Regional Associate Member Coordinator from 1977-1979 and Mrs. Harriet Webster served as Trustee.
In 1993, Raleigh chapter had a vision to encompass all of Wake County. This vision was achieved during the leadership of Shirley Nimmons, our twenty-first president. The new boundaries garnered a new name for the chapter, Raleigh-Wake Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
In 1997, Raleigh-Wake was given the Chapter of the Year Award.
Over the years the Raleigh-Wake Chapter has committed to working with essential educational, cultural, civic, recreational, social and service programs. This commitment has fostered a connection between the members and their community. Raleigh-Wake has championed the cause of extending educational and social opportunities for families within our community. The chapter has achieved this goal for the community and the chapter by contributing to the Jack and Jill Foundation, The Raleigh Women's Center, Raleigh Boys and Girls Club, Holiday Cheer, North Carolina Museum of Art (Friends of African-American Art), Oxford Home for Children, Coat Drives, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Martin Luther King Day Community Clean-Up, scholarship founds, and the Sickle Cell Anemia Fund.
Past Presidents of the Raleigh-Wake Chapter:
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*Harveleigh White
*Gladys Hunt *Thelma Keck *Elizabeth Cofield *Elizabeth Cofield *Marjorie Debnam *Ruby Stroud *Lillian Abron Hazel Logan *Harveleigh White *Elaine Welch Perry *Alice Solomon Bernice Rainbow *Greta Avent Natalie Wimberley Bessie Lewis |
1951-54
1954-55 1955-57 1957-59 1959-61 1961-63 1963-67 1967-69 1969-71 1971-72 1972-74 1974-76 1976-78 1978-80 1980-82 1982-84 |
Karen Vertreese
Karen Vertreese M. Jacquelyne Lewis Judy Rogers Shirley Nimmons Carolyn Winters Ann Hooker Linda Gunn-Jones Earlene Middleton Paulette Motley Darlene Brooks Regina Stephens Nicole Hooker Martin Barbara Blackburn Pamela Taylor Stephanie Irby Coard Ife Mitchell-Parks Thea Horton |
1984-86
1986-88 1988-90 1990-92 1992-94 1994-96 1996-98 1998-00 2000-02 2002-04 2004-06 2006-08 2008-10 2010-12 2012-13 2013-15 2015-16 2016-18 |