Sigma Omicron Lambda Chapter
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
The Sigma Omicron Lambda Chapter was approved July 27, 2019 to serve the Metro Atlanta communities of Fayette and Coweta counties. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. was founded on the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, NY on December, 4, 1906. The Sigma Omicron Lambda chapter looks forward to implementing the fraternity’s national programs, “Go to High School, Go to College”, “Project Alpha”, “A Voteless People is a Hopeless People”, and “Brother’s Keeper” in their service area. The fraternity boasts in its membership several past and present Metro Atlanta leaders including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., former Atlanta Mayor/Congressman Andrew Young and former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson..
Chapter History
In 2017, Bro. Rev. Edward Johnson put out a call to the members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity that were residing in the Fayette and Coweta counties of Georgia. He sensed a need for the presence of Alpha in those communities. An interest group consisting of members of Alpha Phi Alpha was formed. The interest group began meeting at Flat Rock A.M.E. Church in Fayetteville, GA where Bro. Rev. Johnson was the Senior Pastor. Bro. W. Earl Hines Jr. was selected to preside over the interest group meetings. The interest group opened up a bank account and started collecting dues as seed money to start a new chapter. Bro. Darryl A. Hicks was selected to lead the committee to start the application process for a new charter. Bro. Hicks communicated with the necessary District, Regional, and National officers to ascertain what the interest group needed to do in order to be in compliance.For two years, the interest group met monthly at either Flat Rock A.M.E. or Bennetts Mill Middle School where Bro. Marcus Broadhead was the principal. The brothers participated in several events to show the national body that they were ready to operate as a chapter. They started implementing the fraternity’s national programs such as “Brothers Keeper” and “Voteless People Is A Hopeless People”. The interest group included several community leaders. Rev. Bro. James C. Vance was elected as the local NAACP chapter president. The brothers participated in the NAACP annual Martin Luther King Day parade every year. State Representative, Bro. Derrick Jackson invited the brothers to participate at the annual “Alpha Day” at the Georgia State Capitol. To celebrate the new bond an annual cookout was started by the interest group.On July 27, 2019, Sigma Omicron Lambda Chapter was approved at the fraternity’s general convention in Las Vegas, NV. The first installation of officers was held on October 5, 2019, at Bennetts Mill Middle School. The officers were installed by the Area Director, Bro. Pierre Gauthier.The first officers of Sigma Omicron Lambda were:W. Earl Hines Jr. – President
Darryl Langford – Vice President
Dr. Marcus Broadhead, Ed.D – Recording/Corresponding Secretary
Michael McBride – Treasurer
Johnnie Beale – Financial Secretary
Adrian Cooley – Historian/Associate Editor to the Sphinx
Rev. James D.S. Vance – Chaplain
Darryl Felker – Director of Educational Activities
Dr. Maurice B. Gilbert, M.D. – Chapter Dean of Membership
Vernan Roberson – Sergeant at Arms
Darryl Hicks – ParliamentarianCHARTER MEMBERS
Johnnie Beale
Dr. Marcus Broadhead
Efram Clark*
Rev. Dr. James C. Clements
Adrian Cooley*
Dr. Maurice B. Gilbert*
John Hannah*
Darryl A. Hicks, Sr.*
W. Earl Hines, Jr.
Derrick Jackson*
Rev. Edward Johnson
Darryl Langford*
Michael McBride, Sr.*
Carl Montgomery*
Edward Morgan**
Vernan Roberson*
Larry Shields*
Rev. James D. S. Vance** Life Member
** 50th Year Member
Fraternity History
Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American Men, was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York by seven college men who recognized the need for a strong bond of brotherhood among African descendants in this country. The seven visionary founders, known as the “Jewels” of the fraternity, are Dr. Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy.The fraternity initially served as a study and support group for minority students who faced racial prejudice, both educationally and socially, at Cornell. The Jewel founders and early leaders of the fraternity succeeded in laying a firm foundation for Alpha Phi Alpha’s principles of scholarship, fellowship, good character, and the uplifting of humanity.Alpha Phi Alpha chapters were established at other colleges and universities, many of them historically black institutions, soon after the founding at Cornell. The first alumni chapter was established in 1911. While continuing to stress academic excellence among its members, Alpha also recognized the need to help correct the educational, economic, political, and social injustices faced by African Americans. Alpha Phi Alpha has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community’s fight for civil rights through leaders such as W.E.B. DuBois, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Edward Brooke, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young, William Gray, Paul Robeson, and many others. True to its form as the “first of firsts,” Alpha Phi Alpha has been interracial since 1945.Since its founding on December 4, 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has supplied voice and vision to the struggle of African Americans and people of color around the world.
Contact Us
Chapter meetings are held every 1st Saturday at 2:00pm