To the editor:

On Sept. 13, I accompanied my wife to a gathering celebrating the Suffolk Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.’s 50th anniversary.

I must admit that, while I know a number of ladies involved in the local Delta Chapter, I had no true idea of the nature and purpose of their organization.

The evening began with the normal niceties, introductions and salutations, and the capable staff at the Hilton Garden Inn did their usual fine job in preparing and serving the meal.

Once the program began, though, my preconceptions of this celebration and of this organization were totally obliterated. What I found out was truly remarkable. Twelve ladies who were sisters in the National Delta Sorority came from different colleges and somehow arrived in Suffolk to form their local alumnae chapter on Sept. 12, 1964.

I heard much about the founding sisters’ backgrounds and their work in our community. They were all professional women with a purpose in their lives.

Having grown up in Chuckatuck, I know that in 1964 times were much different than they are today. But these ladies, with no fear or trepidation, stepped out to provide educational support, health care support, nurturing of families and other needs that were nonexistent in their community in 1964.

They provided health care clinics, scholarships and other worthy programs, all of which continue today from the seeds those 12 ladies planted. Their successes are numerous and valuable to our community.

Those 12 ladies had a vision far beyond what most people saw in 1964. Their actions were courageous, and all the citizens of our city should be very proud of them and their successors for the depth and quality of the services that they have rendered and continue to render for our community.

I can only hope that other civic organizations would use the local Delta Chapter as a model for their future endeavors.

Jesse J. Johnson Jr.

Suffolk