Story and photos submitted by Deirdre Mims

On March 24, 2024, the Dynamic Delta Omega Zeta, the local Huntsville Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, celebrated their Finer Womanhood observance at Lakeside United Methodist Church, where the Reverend Randy B. Kelley is the Pastor.

Finer Womanhood is observed the last week in February through the end of March by Zeta Phi Beta Sororities across the United States to uplift the founding principles of Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood. This momentous occasion has been celebrated in Huntsville, AL, since 1951. This year’s 2024 honorees have exhibited and exemplified the five principles of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and their drive and determination to better the community.

Ms. Deirdre Mims served as the Mistress of Ceremony, and Mrs. Theresa Mims presented the Greetings. The occasion was by Ms. Chole Patterson, followed by an Invocation by Mrs. Jewell Cheatham.

Four different categories were presented at this year’s Finer Womanhood and Youth Hall of Fame Program: Zeta of the Year, Zeta Woman of the Year, Amica of the Year, and five Youth Hall of Fame recipients, who each received $1,500 in scholarships.

Zeta of the Year Honoree is Ms. Octavia Scott. Ms. Scott is from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and graduated from Alabama A&M University (AAMU) on May 12, 2007, with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. While attending AAMU, she became a member of the Sigma Beta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. Ms.Scott became a member of Delta Omega Zeta Chapter in 2021. Since then, Ms. Scott has chaired the 2022 Annual Chapter Retreat Committee and the 2023 Finer Womanhood Committee, as well as served on several other committees. In 2022, she was elected as the First Vice President for Delta Omega Zeta and simultaneously serves as the Membership Coordinator.

Zeta Woman of the Year is the Honorable Judge Lynn Sherrod. To be considered for Zeta Woman of the Year, the individual must demon- strate and exhibit the founding principles of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, which has made an impact in the community. Judge Sherrod has been instrumental in the community by creating the first Fam- ily Drug Court while adding an Adult Drug Court and a Juvenile Drug Court to the specialty courts in Madison County, Alabama. She is the first and only Alabamian to serve the Judicial Council, holding a spot as the 35th Chairperson of the National Bar Association. She is a founding member of the National African American Drug Policy Coalition. She holds American Inns of Court membership and has received other scholastic and accomplished awards. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated of the Epsilon Gamma Omega Chapter.

The Zeta Amica of the Year is Ms. Paula Hall. Ms. Hall is a native of Huntsville and a charter member of Amicae of Huntsville. Over the last five years, she has shown nothing short of excellence. Ms.Hall motivates all her fellow Amicae to be their best, and you will never have to ask her to do anything twice. She has participated in several community projects, including providing care packages for nurses in the neonatal unit, volunteering with the Huntsville Police Department, and Community Awareness for Youth, to name a few. Ms. Hall’s passion for giving back to her community motivates others daily.

Five exceptional young high school ladies received the Delta Omega Zeta Scholarship and were awarded $1,500 each. Awardees: Miss Temitoro Bailey (Mae Jemison High School); Miss Chloe McElroy (Sparkman High School); Miss Mya Mury (Sparkman High School); Miss Kendall Snodgrass (Buckhorn High School);and Miss Hannah Stanley (New Century Technology High School). Each young lady performed a talent and was inducted into the Delta Omega Zeta Youth Hall of Fame by President Chenita McCauley. Dr. Courtney Murray, a past recipient of the Delta Omega Zeta scholarship and now a dentist, gave an exceptional speech to the young ladies on how the scholarship helped her and how to live each day to the fullest.

The members of the Finer Womanhood committee were Mrs. Harriett Littlepage, Mrs. Ida Crawford, Ms. Beverly Jolly, Ms. Cerdricia Stanton, Ms. Angie Forman, Ms. Carol Harris, Mrs. Latisha Marbuary, and Mrs. Alfreda Handy-Sullivan. Ms. Deirdre Mims served as

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