The First African Baptist Church, Savannah, Georgia (Franklin Square) holds a special significance for Alpha Theta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. It was during a regular meeting of the Junior League of the church that the idea to consider the possibilities for a chapter was born.  Lou Swartz of St. Louis Missouri was visiting the city and attended the Junior League meeting. She was responsible for sparking the initial steps. The young women interested selected Nancy Houston Walker to contact the National Organization. 

 

After much prayer, hard work and dedication were put into the formation of the chapter. The final moment came on July 1, 1939, when eleven college women were initiated into Alpha Theta Zeta Chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. by the Regional Director Aleta Ford of Knoxville, Tennessee, at the home of the Viola C. Holbrooks, at 629 West 36th Street, Savannah, Georgia. Charter Members were: Retha Delaware; Ola B. Dingle; Jessie Gibbs; Viola C. Holbrook; Lillie Jones; Matella Marie; Margaret Stewart; Nancy Walker; Cecelia Walker; Kathryn Williams; and Nelly Ziegler.

 

The chapter has engaged in various service projects including, but not limited to the following:

 

Eyeglasses for underprivileged children; Hunger project (sponsored a family in South Carolina); Clothing project for needy families; Children Story Hour (held in Public Schools); Greenbriar Children’s Center individual sponsorship of a child; Easter baskets; Cooperative E.O.A. Project (children taken to concerts and matinees); Social Welfare contributions to Sisters and Brothers in time of trouble; Georgia Regional Hospital; Scholarships to local college students; March of Dimes Walk for Babies; NPH Council of Sororities; 100 Celebrity Men Who Cook to benefit the UNCF; Safe Shelter; Frank Callen Boys and Girls Club; Health Fairs; Blood Drives; Blood and Glucose Testing; Film and Material Distribution; Voter Registration Drives; Volunteered services to many civic organizations; and the Operated Storks Nest.

 

Alpha Theta Zeta chapter has held membership in the West Broad Street YMCA, NAACP, Pan Hellenic Council and the Negro Council of Women. Alpha Theta Zeta Chapter has been a valuable entity in the community and will continue to hold our banners high reflecting the theme Z-HOPE (Zeta’s Helping Other People Excel through Mind, Body, and Spirit).