Founders

Arizona Leedonia (Stemons) was born in 1898 in Pike County, MO. Founder Cleaver was the first President of Alpha Chapter and the first National President of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. Fraternity brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Charles Robert Samuels Taylor and A. Langston Taylor inspired her to form the first and only constitutional bond Black Sorority and Fraternity family.

A graduate and post-graduate of Howard University, Arizona earned degrees in the field of Social Work. In 1933, she accepted a position with the Philadelphia Department of Public Assistance. Other professional positions have included: Director of a residence hall at Morgan State College in Baltimore, Case Worker for the Philadelphia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and Juvenile Court Probation Officer in Philadelphia.

She once stated, "Being the one to say: 'Let's establish a new sisterhood,' then to see it grow from five girls to the present status, indeed gives me quite a thrill. Yet, I am humble and grateful that so many have been and still are willing to go the Zeta way." Founder Arizona Cleaver Stemons was a Life Member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and held membership with Beta Delta Zeta Chapter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was responsible for chartering numerous undergraduate and graduate chapters throughout the United States.

Her triumphant life ended in March, 1980 in Philadelphia.

Myrtle Tyler Faithful

Born November 7, 1901, Myrtle Tyler (Faithful) was the second National President of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and the second President of Alpha Chapter. Like her sister Viola Tyler, was born in Flushing, Ohio. Upon receiving her high school diploma, she matriculated at Howard University. An Ohio teacher of Mathematics and English for some years, she always had an active interest in community affairs.

After obtaining a Bachelors of Education from Howard University, she taught for several years in the Annapolis High School in Maryland. After marriage to Ross Faithful, she stopped teaching to raise her two daughters, one of whom is a Zeta. A former resident of Towson, Maryland, Founder Myrtle Tyler Faithful was an active Life Member of Alpha Zeta Chapter in Baltimore, Maryland and the National Executive Board.

She revealed that "one of the happiest moments I have spent with Zetas was when the Five Founders met as guests of the Delta Alpha Zeta Chapter of Brooklyn, New York at their Founder's Day Dinner in 1952. What a wonderful reunion we had. It is that bond of sisterly love in Zeta women that unites us and makes us grow."

Founder Myrtle Tyler Faithful's triumphant life ended on April 21, 1993 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Viola Tyler Goings

Founder Viola Tyler was often quoted to say "[In the ideal collegiate situation] there is a Zeta in a girl regardless of race, creed, or color, who has high standards and principles, a good scholarly average and an active interest in all things that she undertakes to accomplish."

Viola Tyler was one of the co-founders of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and a Life Member. Born August 29, 1899 in Flushing, Ohio at the end of her high school career, became a coed at Howard University.

After graduating from Howard University with a teaching degree and a math minor, she taught in Smithfield, North Carolina and later accepted the position of Assistant Principal at the Cambridge High School in Cambridge, Maryland. She married Fred Goings and later moved to Springfield, Ohio pursuing her career as a teacher. However, being a career woman did not interfere with the love and nurture bestowed upon her two sons and two daughters. Respecting the legacy of their grandmother, Founder Tyler has two granddaughters whom are both members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.

Founder Viola Tyler Goings' triumphant life ended March, 1983 in Springfield Ohio.

Fannie Pettie Watts

A Co-Founder of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Fannie Pettie (Watts) was born on December 20, 1899. She was a Life Member and held membership with Delta Alpha Zeta Chapter in Brooklyn, New York. She is credited with organizing Omicron Beta Chapter in Brooklyn.

Fannie Pettie was born in Perry, Georgia. She attended public schools in Savannah, Georgia and continued her formal training at Georgia State College. Later, she graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education and taught junior and senior high school in Savannah, Georgia. Post-graduated studies in Social Work and in housing have been pursued at New York University.

She was married to the late John G. Watts and was the mother of two sons. Professionally, Founder Fannie Pettie Watts was the Social Investigator for the Department of Social Service in Brooklyn and Director of the Cradle Roll division of Brooklyn's Nazarene Congregational Church.

Founder Fannie Pettie Watts' triumphant life ended on August 22, 1995.

Pearl Anna Neal

Pearl A. Neal was one of the co-founders of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and a Life Member. Pearl Neal was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. She exhibited early a degree of excellence in music and attended the Lincoln Academy in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. Upon completion of her studies at the Academy, she entered Howard University where she earned a degree in Music. Founder Neal went on to study at the Julliard School of Music, but earned her Master's degree in Music from Columbia University, New York in 1938, thus becoming the first Black woman in the state to earn this degree. She did further study at the Julliard School of Music in New York.

Founder Pearl Anna Neal began her career in the field of Education in Americus, Georgia, teaching briefly in Crockett, Texas. She completed her career in the Winston-Salem Schools in 1966. She was extremely active in church and community activities.

Founder Pearl Anna Neal's triumphant life ended on January 31, 1978 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

First Initiates

Although there were five Founders of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., there were many women who were initially interested but did not become a part of the founding group. Many feared the high academic standards they would need to meet to become a part of this new organization, others could not afford the initiation fee that appears nominal by today's standards.

However, soon after the light of Zeta shone clearly through our Five Pearls, there were twenty-five women eager to join the Zeta movement. Of these twenty-five, only four - Gladys Warrington, Harriet Dorsey, Pauline Philips and Nellie Singfield - went on to be initiated as a part of the second pledge class.

Zeta Phi Beta took top scholastic honors on the Howard University campus when a member of this second pledge class, Pauline Phillips, graduated summa cum laude, thus setting a precedent of academic excellence still expected of Zeta members to this day.