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April 22, 2021 [Earth Day] — Twenty-seventh Planting (5 trees planted)


Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was founded on January 16, 1920 at Howard University by the five women shown seated in the image below. It was the first National Pan-Hellenic Council organization to centralize its operations in a national headquarters, first to charter a chapter in Africa, first to form auxiliary groups, and first to be constitutionally bound to a fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. The sorority takes pride in its continued participation in transforming communities through volunteer services from members and its auxiliaries. Now in its 101st year, the Sorority has more than 125,000 members in hundreds of chapters throughout the world. Cary's chapter is Sigma Rho Zeta, led by its president, LaToya Vick. Members of Sigma Rho Zeta celebrated Earth Day 2021 by planting trees in memory and honor of The Sorority Founders.


The Founders of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority at Howard University in 1920, seated from left to right: Viola Tyler Goings, Pearl Anna Neal, Arizona Cleaver Stemons, Fannie Pettie Watts, and Myrtle Tyler Faithful.


Tree Number Tree Species Date Planted By Whom Planted
166A Amelanchier x grandiflora
'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry		 April  22, 2021 ΣΡΖ

Tree planted in memory and honor of VIOLA TYLER GOINGS: Viola Tyler graduated from Howard University with a teaching degree and a major in math. She taught school in Ohio for many years and was always very active in community affairs.

Tree Number Tree Species Date Planted By Whom Planted
166B Chionanthus virginicus
White Fringetree
 April  22, 2021 ΣΡΖ

Tree planted in memory and honor of PEARL ANNA NEAL: After graduating from Howard University’s Conservatory of Music, Founder Neal continued her studies at the Julliard School of Music. In 1938, she was the first black woman in New York to earn a master’s degree in music from Columbia University. An extremely accomplished musician, Founder Neal taught music in North Carolina public schools and served as a director of seniors majoring in music at Teachers College in Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Tree Number Tree Species Date Planted By Whom Planted
166C Chionanthus virginicus
White Fringetree
 April  22, 2021 ΣΡΖ

Tree planted in memory and honor of ARIZONA CLEAVER STEMONS, the first president of Alpha chapter and the first national president of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. She completed her graduate and post-graduate studies in the field of social work and was responsible for chartering numerous undergraduate and graduate chapters throughout the United States.

Tree Number Tree Species Date Planted By Whom Planted
166D Chionanthus virginicus
White Fringetree
 April  22, 2021 ΣΡΖ

Tree planted in memory and honor of FANNIE PETTIE WATTS: Fannie Pettie graduated from Howard with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education and taught junior and senior high schools in Savannah, Georgia. She was credited with organizing two additional Zeta chapters and had active membership in Delta Alpha Zeta chapter.

Tree Number Tree Species Date Planted By Whom Planted
166E Amelanchier x grandiflora
'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry		 April  22, 2021 ΣΡΖ

Tree planted in memory and honor of MYRTLE TYLER FAITHFUL: Myrtle Tyler was the second national president of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and blood sister to Viola Tyler. A high school mathematics and English teacher, Founder Tyler was an active member of Alpha Zeta chapter in Baltimore, Maryland.

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