Zeta Phi Beta Sorority,Inc.
Theta Mu Zeta chapter
BUILDING ON THE PRINCIPLES OF ZETA WHILE BLAZING NEW PATHS.
HISTORY OF THE "MIGHTY" SOUTHERN REGION
First Southern Region Regional Director
1929-35 Roberta F. Bell (Sims) Shreveport, Louisiana
The "Mighty"Southern Region traces its origins to 1929 when Roberta F. Bell was elected as the National First Anti-Basileus. She served through 1934. At that time, the National First Anti-Basileus also performed the duties of national organizer. At the same Boule in 1929, Roberta was appointed to serve as the Southern Regional Director and given the assignment of organizing a region to be comprised of Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama. From 1929 to 1934 Roberta organized new chapters in every section of the region. From this beginning, the "Mighty" Southern Region began to grow rapidly, and this trend continues today.
In 1937, the "Mighty" Southern Region invited the Boule to Houston. The 1937 Boule was the first held south of the Mason-Dixon line, which was the historic dividing line between North and South. Forty-five voting delegates attended.
Between 1937 and 1943, the "Mighty" Southern Region grew into the largest region in the sorority. It still bears the name it was given during these years, "The Mighty Southern Region", because it was so strong and gave such excellent leadership to the national body. Many of the projects undertaken by the "Mighty" Southern Region were adopted by the national body, and the national body has grown with many of the ideas initiated in the "Mighty" Southern Region, such as the Blue Revue. The region grew so rapidly and became so large that eventually all states except Texas and Louisiana were reassigned to other regions. This was a logical move because the two states border each other, and there are enough colleges and communities in the two states to warrant a region. Despite their geographic separation, chapters in the region are linked together by a regional director with the assistance of state directors and regional elected and appointed officers.
The region is proud to have four Past Grand Basilei who have added and continue to add wisdom, guidance, and stability to the region. Lullelia Walker Harrison from Houston, Texas, was the 12th Grand Basileus, Isabel Morgan Herson from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was the 16th Grand Basileus, Dr. Barbara West Carpenter from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is the 21st Grand Basileus and Mary Breaux Wright from Houston, Texas is the 24th and current International Grand Basileus of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Past Southern Region Directrors
1929-35 Roberta F. Bell (Sims), Shreveport, Louisiana
1936-42 Lullelia Harrison, Houston, Texas
1943-45 Gertrude Jimson, New Orleans, Louisiana
1946-48 Marion Dillard, Dallas, Texas
1949-53 Ruth Thibodeaux, Shreveport, Louisiana
1953-58 Grace Jackson, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
1959-61 Velma Butler, San Antonio, Texas
1962-65 Lullelia Harrison, Houston, Texas
1966-72 Hazel Routte Simmons, Fort Worth, Texas
1973-78 Thelma Thomas, Lake Charles, Louisiana
1978-80 Bobbie Moorehead, Houston, Texas
1980-86 Dolores Pennington, New Orleans, Louisiana
1986-92 Regina Holmes, Beaumont, Texas
1992-98 Dr. Nell Ingram, DeSoto, Texas
1998-02 Cheryl G. Williams, Shreveport, Louisiana
2002-08 Mary B. Wright, Houston, Texas
2008-10 Donnie Faye Hull, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
2010-12 Anitra Kennedy Furlow, Shreveport, Louisiana
2012-present Kay Jones Rosebure, Houston, Texas