History of Hampton-Newport News Chapter
ORIGIN
The National
Epicureans, Inc., formerly known as the "Epicureans" was
organized in 1944 by a group of women who had been high
school and college friends in Richmond, VA. A group of young
women from Hampton and Newport News, VA was contacted by
Mary Riley and Maxine Riley concerning their interest in
organizing a chapter of National Epicureans, Inc.
INSTALLATION
As a result of this meeting, the Portsmouth
Chapter sponsored the Hampton-Newport News Chapter. We were
installed in a very impressive ceremony at the home of Mary
Riley who was elected president of the chapter. The
following charter members were inducted on November 21, 1953
by the National President, Ruby Mitchell, a member of the
Richmond Chapter, which is our Mother Chapter: Julia Rice
Bassette, Joyce Brown-Fannin, Maxine Tann Riley. Thelma Gary
Boone, Alma Chandler Frazier, Roberta Riley Simms, Arminta
Cooke, Ione Raney, Mable King Sykes, Jeannette Sims Cooper,
Cora Mae Reid, Bernice Davis Winston, Flora Duncan Harrell,
and Mary M. Riley.
The Hampton-Newport News Chapter was
the fifth chapter in the organization.
CONCLAVES
-May
25, 1956 Bay Shore Beach, Hampton, VA
-June, 1965
Chamberlin Hotel, Fort Monroe, VA (*First black group to
host a conclave/convention in this hotel)
-June 2, 1978
Williamsburg Lodge, Williamsburg, VA
-June 16, 2000
Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center, Hampton, VA
OUR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
Christmas Parties * Founders' Day
Dinner Dances * Round Robin Parties * Members' Retirement
Celebration
Induction Ceremonies and Parties * Worship
Services
CONTRIBUTIONS TO ORGANIZATIONS AND CHARITIES
NAACP - Golden Heritage Awards (2); Little England Chapel;
HELP - Hampton Roads Ecumenical and Lodging
Provisions;
Road Ahead; Doug Wilder's Gubernatorial Campaign; Lupus
Foundation; Boys' and Girls' Club of
Greater Hampton
Roads; battered Women Homeless Shelter; Thanksgiving Gamily
Adoptees (Food, clothing,
toys); Sickle Cell Anemia
Children's Christmas Parties; Sickle Cell Anemia Summer Camp
Child Sponsorship;
Newport News General Hospital; Y.H.
Thomas Community Center, Hampton, VA.
MEMBERS WHO
HAVE HELD NATIONAL OFFICES
President: Thelma Boone; Vice
President: Thelma Boone; Secretary: Thelma Boone; Treasurer:
Mary Riley;
Treasurer: Shirley Williams; Journalists:
Shirley Williams, Rebecca Smith and Alice Haynes.
PRESIDENTS OF OUR CHAPTER
Mary Riley, Thelma Boone,
Olivia Murphy, Jeannette Cooper, Bernice Winston, Mildred
Whaley, Mable Sykes,
Rebecca Smith, Jean Carnegie, Julie
Williams, O'Marie White, Jeannette Lovett, Ada Sloan, Alma
Frazier, Elaine
Wilson, Shirley Williams, Sandra Brown
and Harriet Ferguson.