History of Beta Beta Beta Chapter
of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was chartered on March 14, 1981. On June 21, 1981, Beta Beta Beta held its chartering services at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Wilson, North Carolina. Brother Donald Ray Armstrong of Alpha Omicron Chapter in Rocky Mount, North Carolina presided at the ceremony and officially presented the charter. Beta Beta Beta Chapter gre
w out of the Nu Alpha Chapter, not from discontent or animosity, but more as a matter of convenience. Wanting to remain active in all fraternity functions, Brothers in the Wilson Area realized that this was becoming more difficult to do because of their age, their job responsibilities, and the distances to chapter meeting places. Therefore, it was felt by the charter members that in order to remain active in the fraternity and function effectively and productively in the programs and activities required of them they had to become more localized. This also provided the Brothers in the Wilson area an opportunity to address more needs of the local community and enabled them to be more involved in community activities. The chapter had ten (10) charter members who were Brothers James R. Buchanan, Elmer J. Cummings, Sr., Cleveland E. Flowe, Ernest (E.D.) Hall, John W. Jones, Thomas O. Lofton, Sr., Bobby Meeks, William E. Myers, Walter R. Stephens, and Bennie J. Woodard. At its first official meeting, the following chapter officers were elected: Brother Elmer J. Cummings - Basileus, Brother William E, Myers - Vice Basileus, Brother James R. Buchanan - Keeper of Records and Seal, Brother Bennie J. Woodard - Keeper of Finance, Brother John W. Jones - Keeper of Peace, and Brother Thomas O. Lofton - Chaplain. Beta Beta Beta Chapter is a very active chapter in the Sixth District of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and participates in all of the nationally mandated programs. The chapter is a leader among civic and fraternal organizations in the community and has initiated several outstanding programs. Included among those are an after-school tutoring program, the establishment of The Omega Development Group, which is a non-profit organization that was instrumental in the formation of the Freeman Round House, which is Wilson’s first African-American Museum. The chapter is growing and currently has an active membership roster of twenty-seven (27) financial brothers and five of them are life members. Several chapter members have excelled individually and made significant contributions in the community. Brother Willie Williams was the first African-American Police Chief of Wilson and Brother Randolph Sessoms was the first African-American Superintendent of the Wilson County Schools. Brother Charles Branford, who worked tirelessly in community affairs had a community building named in his honor and Brother John Wesley Jones, a former principal and board of education member had an elementary school named in his honor. Brother E.D. Hall is presently serving as the Assistant Grand Keeper of Records and Seal for the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Bother Darryl Smith is the Sixth District Counselor. The members of the chapter are a very close knit group of men with similar ideas and interests. They all have high standards and continue to exemplify the four cardinal principles of our beloved fraternity.
