Our Five Pearls
Founder Arizona Leedonia Cleaver
Born in Pike County, Missouri
Was educated in the public schools of Hannibal, Missouri
Graduate & Post graduate studies were pursued at Howard University and at the Pennsylvania School of Social Work
First professional employment resulted in teaching at the same Hannibal high school from which she graduated
Inspired by Charles Robert Taylor and A. Langston Taylor, fraternity brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity
Arizona encouraged the first group of young women to join her in Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
One of the co-founders of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
First Basileus of Alpha Chapter
First Grand Basileus of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
Held membership with Beta Delta Zeta chapter in Pennsylvania
Life Member
Founder Arizona Cleaver Stemons' triumphant life ended in March 1980, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Founder Pearl Anna Neal
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina
Excelled in music
Attended the Lincoln Academy in King's Mountain, North Carolina
Earned a Degree in Music at Howard University
Earned her Master's Degree in Music from Columbia University (New York) in 1938, becoming the first black woman in the state to earn this degree
Career in the field of Education
Americus, Georgia, teaching
Briefly in Crockett, Texas.
Completed her career in Winston-Salem Schools
One of the co-founders of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
Life Member
Founder Pearl Anna Neal's triumphant life ended in January 1978, in Charlotte, North Carolina
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Founder Fannie Pettie
Born in Perry, Georgia,
Attended the public schools in Savannah, Georgia
Continued her formal training at Georgia State College
Graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education
Post-graduate studies in Social Work & Housing were pursued at New York University
One of the co-founders of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
Held membership with Delta Alpha Zeta Chapter in Brooklyn, New York
Life Member
Founder Fannie Pettie Watts' triumphant life ended in 1995
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Founder Myrtle Tyler
Blood sister to Viola Tyler
Born in Flushing, Ohio
Upon receiving her high school diploma, she matriculated at Howard University
An Ohio teacher of mathematics and English for several years
Taught at the Annapolis High School in Maryland
She gave up teaching when she married Ross Faithful and raised two daughters, both of whom are Zetas
One of the co-founders of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
Second Grand Basileus of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
Life Member of Alpha Zeta Chapter in Baltimore, Maryland
Founder Myrtle Tyler Faithful's triumphant life ended on April 21, 1993, in Baltimore, Maryland
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Founder Viola Tyler
Born in Flushing, Ohio
Upon receiving her high school diploma, she matriculated at Howard University
Graduated from Howard University with a teaching degree
Taught in Smithville, North Carolina
Assistant Principal at the Cambridge High School in Cambridge, Maryland
She married Fred Goings and moved to Springfield, Ohio, pursuing a career as a teacher.
Being a career woman did not interfere with the love and nurture bestowed upon her children (two sons and two daughters) and her active participation in community affairs
One of the co-founders of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
Life Member
Founder Viola Tyler Goings' triumphant life ended in March 1983, in Springfield, Ohio