It was on Friday, Jan. 3, 1964 when a group of eight educators and prestigious members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, who had moved to Inkster from the South, gathered at the home of Soror Marie Clifton for the purpose of organizing an Inkster chapter. They elected officers as they had high anticipation of receiving the chapter charter.
Later that day, those sorors—Jennie Wilkinson,* Addie Ruth Faulk,* Hattie Black, Glennie Cox,* Dorothy Butler,* Mildred Mickels, Marie Clifton* and Maude Reid*—met in the home of the National President at the time, Dr. Deborah Cannon P. Wolfe,* where they indeed successfully received Zeta Nu Zeta’s charter.
It was such a joyous occasion that even then Great Lakes Regional Director Ione Gibson,* along with sorors from the around the state of Michigan and surrounding areas, presented the charter members of our new chapter with gifts.
Zeta Nu Zeta Chapter is the third oldest Zeta chapter in Michigan.
Community Involvement
Upholding our principle of Scholarship, Zeta Nu Zeta has a 501c nonprofit arm, The Inkster Dove Foundation, which provides educational outreach programs for citizens living in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Each year, Inkster Dove provides scholarship awards for high school seniors and our undergraduate sorority members. Still standing and growing strong, Zeta Nu Zeta is proud to be amongst the many chapters within the nine regions in our Sisterhood.
Zeta Leaders & Trailblazers
Our charter members have contributed immensely to the state and the region. Together, they created the Blue Review, a cotillion that was well-known in Michigan. Marie Clifton chartered five undergraduate chapters in the state, and also served as State Director. Maude Reed, who studied English, created “The Zeta Zest” which became the Great Lakes Region’s official publication. Irma Watson was one of five members to charter the first and only graduate chapter in Darmstadt, Germany, Mu Theta Zeta, on July 1, 1983. We are also home of past State Directors Mary Lester and Tonia Jenkins and, now, to Lynese Thomas, current director.
Auxiliaries
Zeta Nu Zeta has very strong and active auxiliary groups. The Zeta Amicae of Inkster was chartered on April 6, 1994. Our Friends recently celebrated 25 years of service in the Inkster community. Our youth auxiliary was organized in 1950. ZNZ’s Archonettes, Amicettes and Pearlettes are continuously striving to meet the principles of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated through their volunteer work in the community.
* Deceased
Note: This is part of the Michigan State Organization’s online series "The MSO Great History Countdown! Our Centennial Journey to State Meeting" to leave a lasting gift to the state in honor of Zeta’s 100th anniversary. Histories from every graduate and undergraduate chapter in Michigan is being published in the month of September 2020 in the days leading up to the centennial state meeting. The project was approved under State Director Lynese Thomas’ administration, and overseen by MSO Epistoleus Earlene McMichael in partnership with MSO Historian Trudy Hale and Great Lakes Region Historian Norma Dartis.