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Atlanta Chapter History
In February of 1951, the Atlanta Chapter of Jack and Jill was organized through the effort of 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, Louise Eagleson, Jacqueline Frye, Sadie Gaines, Ann Graves, Gertrude Hackney, Marge Harper, Freddye Henderson, Doretha 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? who would become the parents of tomorrow.
A founder, Helen Bell Robinson Brooks stated recently that finding activities for the children that were entertaining, educational 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 show called Woody Willow. Activity was a key word for the children who swam, played basketball, softball and other seasonal sports on Saturdays at the YMCA. 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 money. The mothers participated in the Polio March. They also adopted needy families.
The Atlanta Chapter, then and now, continues to meet the aims of the national organizations 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.
Special thanks to the following persons who helped provide information and memories of the early chapter years: Mrs. Helen Bell Robinson Brooks, Mrs. Alice Washington, Mrs. Beatrice Williams, Mrs. Marian Shropshire, and Mrs. Barbara Newton.
Since installation in 1951, the following persons have served as President of the Atlanta Chapter (in alphabetical order): Elizabeth Hembree Macomson, Founding President, September 16, 1951
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