Chapter History

The vision for the chartering of the Memphis Chapter of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. was formulated during the early spring of 2018. Initially, two Iota Sorors from Epsilon Psi chapter, Nkesse Henshaw and DyKiesha Rankin, expressed interest in chartering a local chapter of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Incorporated to Southern Regional Director Denise Brandon. The membership informational was held on May 11, 2018, at the Memphis Hilton. Tonya Wilkerson-Jenkins, President of Epsilon Psi, along with Tamara Abbott and Latrice Milhouse were in attendance. Ten (10) ladies were invited to join the Lomepa Pledge Club and were inducted as Lomepas on May 29, 2018, at the Bartlett Public Library.

With this being the first chapter in Shelby County, the charter line of nine women was appropriately named GENESIS 9. The charter members are Chana Brooks, Keisha Burnett, Kelley Bynum, Elverna Cain, Kenya Davis-Lee, Dariona Haynes, Rhonda Mitchell, Monifa Roberts, and Melissa Cochran Robinson. These phenomenal women officially became members of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority Incorporated on June 30, 2018.

The chartering took place at the Hilton Memphis. The chartering and installation of officers took place under the direction of National President Soror Stephanie Dilworth and Southern Regional Director Denise R. Brandon.

The first installation of officers were: President – Nkesse Henshaw-Richmond, First Vice-President/Dean of Intake – DyKiesha Rankin, Second Vice-President – Rhonda Mitchell, Recording Secretary – Dariona Haynes, Corresponding Secretary – Elverna Cain, Financial Secretary – Monifa Roberts, Treasurer – Kenya Davis-Lee, and Journalist – Keisha Burnett.

Since this time, the Zeta Delta chapter has expanded to 19 members, and will continue to grow in numbers and excellence.

Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc Founders

In 1929, Mrs. Lola M. Parker of Chicago, Illinois founded Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, a national business and professional women’s organization. The sorority was established to offset the results caused by the great depression and to add prestige to career businesswomen and the field of business.

The Sorority’s aims are to:

Make worthwhile contributions to the changing socio-economic patterns of our time.
Project the philosophy of the pursuit of excellence in all worthy endeavors among youth and adults.
Develop leadership expertise among business and professional women.
Unite in sisterhood qualified business and professional women in order to enhance and improve the status of women in our highly complex, competitive business and professional world.
Promote increased interest in the broad field of business education among high school and college young women through planned programs and scholarships.
Encourage the development of personal goals and leadership potential.
Establish and promote civic and social service activities for youth and adults.