Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Dedicates a Bench to Honor Memphis Trailblazer Velma Lois Jones.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is celebrating a Memphis trailblazer for her decades of groundbreaking service.
On August 17, the Phi Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. honored Ms. Velma Lois Jones with a bench dedication and unveiling at LeMoyne-Owen College, as reported by WMC. Ms. Jones, a community pioneer, was recognized for her leadership roles, including her service as the former Alpha Kappa Alpha International Parliamentarian, the 13th South Eastern Regional Director, and the first woman elected President of the NAACP Memphis Branch.
During her time on the LeMoyne-Owen Board of Trustees, Ms. Jones was named Parliamentarian after becoming the longest-serving National Alumni President in the college’s history. As an educator in Memphis City Schools, she also served on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and made history as the first African American teacher elected President of the Tennessee Education Association.
Members of the Phi Lambda Omega Chapter emphasized the significance of honoring trailblazers like Ms. Jones for their impactful contributions to the local community.
“This event matters because it’s crucial to recognize the work that has paved the way for us,” a Phi Lambda Omega Chapter member shared with Local Memphis. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without the efforts of pioneers like Soror Velma Lois Jones.”
“It’s important not only to acknowledge their contributions but also to create a lasting tribute to their impact. We’ve accomplished that at LeMoyne-Owen College today,” she added.
The bench dedication takes place just one month before Ms. Jones’ 90th birthday.
Bench dedications are a way for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. to honor remarkable service leaders by giving them well-deserved recognition. Last August, the Psi Zeta Omega Chapter held a commemorative marker and bench dedication ceremony to honor Ms. Cynthia J. Finch, the 22nd South Eastern Regional Director, celebrating her exceptional contributions to the Tennessee community and the sorority.
