NOTABLE ZETAS
Zeta women make achievements everyday in the pursuit of excellence! Below are some especially noteworthy members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated!
Past International Grand Basileus
Sheryl Underwood
Along with gracing many stages with her infamous comedy; Soror Sheryl Underwood also serves as Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated's 23rd International Grand Basileus.
Soror Dr. Elizabeth Koontz
Soror Koontz was an educated teacher. She became a woman of remarkable educational achievement and spent her career championing equal rights and opportunities for blacks, women and the working poor. She became the1st Black President of the National Education Association.
Soror Zora Neale Hurston
Ms. Hurston was a notable writer and folklorist of the Harlem Renaissance who was known for authoring Moses, Man of the Mountain and the infamous Their Eyes Were Watching God.
More Notable Zetas
Science/Engineering
Soror Rear Admiral Evelyn J. Fields
NOAA Director, NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations and Director, NOAA Corps
First African American to hold position of Read Admiral
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Soror Rear Admiral Lillian E. Fishburne
first African- American woman to hold rank of Rear Admiral in U.S. Navy
Politics/Law
Soror Julia Carson
Former US Representative - Indiana
Soror Violette Anderson
1st Woman of color to practice law before the US Supreme court
Soror Dr. Deborah Wolfe
Former U.S. Education Chief, U.S. House of Representative committee on Education and Labor, and Chairperson of the New Jersey Board of Higher Education
Soror Mary McAllister
NC House of Representatives
Soror Bernette J. Johnson
First black female State Supreme Court justice in Louisiana
Soror Cynthia Willard-Lewis
New Orleans City Councilwoman
Soror Honorable Andrei Ellen Lee
First African American General Session Judge in Nashville
Soror Curlie E. McGruder
Civil Rights Activist
Soror Honorable Tomie T. Green
1st Female and 1st African American Female Elected Circuit Judge in the 7th Judicial District State of Mississippi
Soror Honorable Patricia Wise
1st African American Chancery Judge Elected Chancery Judge in the 5th Judicial District State of Mississippi. 1st Female Elected President of the African American Magnolia Bar Association State of Mississippi
Soror Honorable Eleanor Faye Peterson
1st Black Female Elected District Attorney in the entire State of Mississippi. 1st African American and 1st Female elected District Attorney in the 7th Judicial Distict - State of Mississippi
Soror Esther M. Harrison
MS House of Representatives
Entertainment
Soror Towanda Braxton
Singer
Soror Janet Dubois
Actress/Singer
Soror Esther Rolle
Actress
First woman to receive NAACP Chairman's Civil Rights Leadership Award
Soror Sheryl Underwood
Comedian
Soror Dr. Tonea H. Stewart
Actress & first African American to star and later direct at the New Stage Theatre in Jackson, MS.
Soror Sarah Vaughan
International Grammy Award-winning Jazz Singer
Soror Minnie Riperton
Entertainer
Soror Dionne Warwick
Singer
Soror Grace Bumbry
Opera Singer
Soror Gwendolyn Brooks
Poet, first African American to win Pulitzer Prize for poetry
Education
Soror Dr. Elizabeth D. Koontz
1st Black President of the National Education Astn.
Soror Dr. Joyce Payne
Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund Founder
Syleena Johnson
Grammy award winning R&B singer
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Soror Josephine Groves Holloway
Organized the Girl Scouts for African American Girls in Nashville, TN
Sports
Soror Charlotte F. Westerhaus, J.D.
NCAA Vice-President for Diversity and Inclusion
Soror Wendy Palmer
WNBA Player and current coach of UNC-Greensboro
Women’s basketball team
Soror Demya Walker
WNBA Player
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Lillie Leathewood
Two-time Olympic Medalist
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Camille Cooper
WNBA 2001 draft first round pick (Los Angeles Sparks)