JACK AND JILL OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED
ATLANTA CHAPTER HISTORY
The Atlanta Chapter was organized in February of 1951 through the effort if Mrs. Elizabeth Macomson, a teacher at Spelman College. An Albany chapter member suggested to her that our city should establish this mother’s organization. Initially, it was a small group of mothers that were affiliated with the various schools in the Atlanta University consortium. Mrs. Helen Bell Robinson Brooks, a colleague, invited the group to organize in her home at 988 Westmoor Drive.
By installation time on September 16, 1951, there were 34 mothers in the Atlanta Chapter of Jack and Jill. The following were the first officers: Elizabeth Macomson, president; Mrs.. Mexico Mickelbury, secretary; Mrs. Helen Bell Robinson Brooks, treasurer; Mrs. Jewel Simon and Toki Connally, co-chairman of program committee, Mrs. Alice Holmes Washington reporter to the national organization, and Mrs. Johnnie Yancey, chairman of membership committee.
The first members were as follows- Betty Boyd Mapp, Ernestine Brazeal, Miriam Burney, Harriet Chisholm, Ernestine Comer, Billie Davis, Grace DeLorme, Louis Eagleson, Jacqueline Frye, Sadie Gaines, Ann Graves, Gertrude Hackney, Marge Harper, Freddye Henderson, Dorthea Hill, Juliette Jackson, Ruth Jackson, Gladys Powell, Ruth Scott, Marion Scott, Clara Singleton, Juanita Smith, Lavada Smith, Helen Westerfield, Virginia Whatley, Beatrice Williams and Irene Wilson.
Mrs. Elizabeth Seay of Buffalo, New York, national president of the Jack and Jill of America for that year, flew in for the installation, as she was touring recently established chapters in the south. Mrs. Seay stressed the “value emotional stability and security play, in developing healthy and happy children” that would become the parents of tomorrow.
A founder, Helen Robinson Brooks stated recently that finding activities for the children that were entertaining, education and mind grabbing was a real challenge for the mothers. The Atlanta chapter children were the first Black children to participate in a then popular WSB-TV puppet shower called “Woody Willow”. Activity was a key word for the children who swam, played basketball, softball and other seasonal sports on Saturdays at the UYMCA. There were monthly meetings with dramatics, soap carving, sewing, dancing music and games.
By the middle and late 1950’s, the chapter mothers and children were established in charity projects. During this period the children sent woolen mittens to needy children in a foreign country selected by the American Friends Committee. They carried gifts to hospitalized children. The project of the year for the mothers was an Annual Charity Ball to raise mothers. The mothers participated in the Polio March, and they adopted needy families.
Nearly sixty years later in 2010, the Atlanta chapter continues to meet the aims of the national organization by providing experiences that aid mothers to learn more about their children by careful study. Through our community service projects we seek to offer all children the same advantages, which we desire for our own. We have extended our programming to include activities, which support the following curricular areas:
1- African American History and Culture
2- Leadership Development
3- Community Service
4- Civic Awareness and Responsibility
5- Life Management Skills
6- Health, Nutrition & Fitness
7- Fine Arts Appreciation
8- Finance and Economics
9- Career Development
This curriculum allows us to meet the national guidelines and extend it for the focused development of our young people.
JACK AND JILL OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED
ATLANTA CHAPTER HISTORY
Since installation in 1951, the following persons have served as President of the Atlanta Chapter:
ELIZABETH HEMBREE MACOMSON, FOUNDING PRESIDENT, SEPTEMBER 16, 1951
Jewel Woodard Simon 1951-
Betty Boyd Mapp 1950’s
Ruth Scott Simmons 1960’s
Alice Washington 1962-1963
Evarie (Rhee) Thompson 1966-1967
Miriam Shropshire (National President 1970-74) 1967-1968(?)
Patricia Martin Cannon 1968-1969
Roseland Days 1969-1971
Edith Ross 1971-1972
Margaret Nixon Smith 1972-1973
Revonia Radden Bryant 1973-1975
Myrtle Reid Davis 1975-1977
Burnella Jackson Ranson 1977-1979
Geraldine Calloway Gilliam 1979-1981
Michelle Redwine 1981-1982
Yvonne Jackson Wiltz 1982-1984
Sharon Martin 1984-1985
Patricia Washington Clement 1985-1986
Pamela Robinson 1986-1988
Dorothy Cowser Yancy 1988-1990
Jeanne Cain Atkins 1990-1992
Reinetta Thompson Waldrop 1992-1993
Marcia Spiller 1993-1995
Linda Jones 1995-1997
Patrice Perkins-Hooker 1997-1999
Marjorie Belton 1999-2001
Sarah Lattimer 2001-2003
Alfreda Mayes 2003-2005
Marjorie Mitchell 2005-2009
Patrice Brown Greer 2009-2011
Rebecca Paschal Young 2011-
Special thanks to the following persons who helped provide the original information and memories of the early chapter years: Mrs. Helen Bell Robinson Brooks, Mrs. Alice Washington, Mrs. Beatrice Williams, Mrs. Miriam Shropshire, and Mrs. Barbara Newton.