DRO Charter Member J. Marjory Jackson penned the AKA National Hymn

Delta Rho Omega Chapter was chartered on November 15, 1947. The charter group consisted of Ruth Handy, Frances Douglass, Artrelle Robins, Barbara Warren, Rosa T. Weatherless, Delolah Harris, Margaret Waters, Ollie Dent, Lila Edwards, J. Marjorie Jackson, Mamie Johnson, Josephine Lightner, Edna Payne and Dorothy Spaulding.

Within the first five years of its existence, the chapter had undertaken many projects, some of which included: monetary and volunteer assistance to the Brooklyn Home For the Aged, support to the YWCA and the National Council of Negro Women, the establishment of a scholarship program, an annual community representative recognition luncheon, and the launch of a mental hygiene program staffed by professionals from the rank of the organization. The mental hygiene program was subsequently incorporated into the services of the Brooklyn Department of Health.

In addition to its many outstanding and ongoing programs, Delta Rho Omega is a chapter of firsts:

• The first Greek letter organization to support the Civil Rights Movement, breaking the tradition of sponsoring an annual ball and instead sending a monetary donation to the Montgomery Defense Fund to support those without transportation during the Montgomery bus boycott.
• The first African-American organization permitted to sponsor an event at facilities of the New York Racing Association, an events that remains one of the chapters oldest ongoing activities supporting the chapter’s scholarship and philanthropic efforts
• The first Greek letter organization to exhibit the dramatic works of African-American playwrights utilizing the organizations members as director, cast and crew.
• The first chapter to have songs authored by chapter members celebrated on both the national and regional level, the national hymn having been penned by J. Marjorie Jackson and the North Atlantic Region’s Centennial song penned by Carole Brinkley.

Ruth Handy
Frances Douglass
Artrelle Robins
Barbara Warren
Rosa T. Weatherless
Delolah Harris
Margaret Waters
Ollie Dent
Lila Edwards
J. Marjorie Jackson
Mamie Johnson
Josephine Lightner
Edna Payne
Dorothy Spaulding