We are proud to boast of members who have served as officers on the National and Regional level: Ada C. Anderson, National Corresponding Secretary and Regional Director of the South Central Region; Willie Mae Kirk, Regional Secretary/Treasurer; Lillie Williams, Regional Secretary/Treasurer; Mary Lou Adams, Regional Director & Regional Secretary/Treasurer; Susan Johnson, Regional Director (2001- 2005); Catherine Lee, Legislative Chairperson; Barbara Dunn Harrington, Foundation Member-At-large; Gina Harris, Regional Nominating Committee Chair and Brenda Kennedy served as South Central Regional Director and Regional Foundation Member-At-Large. Denise Davis served as Regional Parliamentarian from 2009-2011. Brenda Kennedy served as Regional Chapter Membership and Establishment Chair from 2009-2011. Also, during the 2009-2011 program years, Jacquelyn Hawkins served as Regional Chair of Policies and Procedures and Tanisa Jeffers Bernard served as Regional Chair of Alumni Connection. Sheldy Starkes was an appointee to the National Membership Committee for 2010-2012. The Austin Chapter is proud to have two of its members, Tanisa Jeffers Bernard and Sheldy Starkes, be selected for the inaugural class of the National Leadership Academy at the 2010 National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. At Mother’s Conference 2011, Austin was elated to have two of its members elected to Regional offices. J. Laverne Morris-Parker was elected as Regional Treasurer, serving from 2011-2015, and Tanisa Jeffers-Bernard was elected as a member of the 2011- 2013 Regional Nominating Committee. At Mother’s Conference 2013, the Austin Chapter was proud to support Tanisa Jeffers Bernard as she was elected as the 2013-2015 South Central Region Nominating Chair.  At the 2014 National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, Austin Chapter members J. LaVerne Morris-Parker served on the National Budget Committee, and member Tanisa Jeffers-Bernard was appointed as the National Tellers Chair. At the 2016 National Convention in Palm Desert, CA, member Sheldy Starkes was appointed as the National Statistics Chair and member Tanisa Jeffers-Bernard served on the National Nominating Committee. Sheldy Starkes also served as the 2016-2018 National Co-Chair Viva la Cuba Task Force and, Brenda Kennedy served as the 2016-2018 SCR Associates Chairman.

For 2019 – 2020, Brenda Kennedy was appointed National Associates Chair at the 43rd 2018 National Convention in Kansas City. She was also elected as our Regional Associates Chair. IPP Tanisa Bernard was appointed as our Regional Program Chair and Mother Cynthea Patterson was appointed to serve as our 2020 National Convention Co-Chair. Our Regional appointments also include Austin Chapter President Tarah Townsend as Central Texas COE Chair and Sheldy Starkes as Leadership Assistance Chair.

The first South Central Region Teen Conference was held in the city of Austin for one day in June 1955. Austin later hosted the South Central Region Teen Conferences in 1962, 1977, 1989 and 2006. The following Austin teens have served as officers of the South Central Region: Lee Kirk, President; Ron Kirk, President; James D. Williams, President; Jamey L. Farrow, Vice President and Treasurer; Samuel M. Austin, III, Treasurer; Michelle Madison, Corresponding Secretary; Corby Hannah, Reporter; Michelle Adams, Parliamentarian; Yasmeen Qadim’asil, Chaplain; Daniel Black, Sgt.-At-Arms; Lana Johnson, Chaplain; Malloré Caldwell, Chaplain; and McKenzie Harris, Secretary. Pilar Caldwell served as Parliamentarian and Vice President and Justin Turner served as Historian. Paige Searles served as Regional Treasurer, Ellison Jennings as Regional Chaplain and Janetta Parker as Regional Treasurer. Chloe Davis served as Regional Teen Chaplain from 2020-2021 and Irvin (V) Williams serves as Regional Legislative Chair from 2024-2025.

 

Austin Chapter Presidents

  • Myrtle Royster 1953-1955

  • Bertha Means 1956-1958

  • Lucille Crawford 1958-1960

  • Willie Mae Kirk 1960-1962

  • Helen Bernice Hammond 1962-1964

  • Lillie Laura Robinson 1964-1966

  • Claudia Allen 1966-1968

  • Lillie Swisher Williams 1968-1970

  • Dorothy Madison 1970-1972

  • Johnnie VanDyke 1972-1974

  • Betty Raphael Crawford 1974-1976

  • Betty Washington 1976-1978

  • Gloria B. Farrow 1978-1980

  • Arthuree Quander 1980-1982

  • Vera Givens 1982-1984

  • Etta Ferguson 1984-1986

  • Andrea Pair Bryant 1986-1988

  • Barbara Dunn Harrington 1988 -1990

  • Catherine White Lee 1990-1992

  • Yvonne Davis 1992-1994

  • Susan McClure Johnson 1994-1998

  • Roxann Chargois 1998-2000

  • Brenda Kennedy 2000-2003

  • Wendolyn Washington 2003-2006

  • LaVerne Morris Parker 2006-2008

  • Nan Burley Richie 2008-2010

  • Jacquelyn Hawkins 2010-2012

  • Sheldy Starkes 2012-2016

  • Tanisa Bernard 2016-2018

  • Tarah Townsend 2018-2020

  • Traci Joy Bermiss 2020-2021

  • Maureen Oyiriaru 2021-2024

  • Kim Hill 2024-current