Famous Zetas

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ANITA TURPEAU ANDERSON
First woman on the debate team at Howard University

Violette Anderson
The first African-American and Women admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court as an Attorney-at-Law.

Towanda Braxton

Singer of the Braxtons and sister to Toni Braxton
Grace Ann Bumbry

Opera singer - The first black to sing in Bayreuth, Germany's Wagner Festival. A mezzo-soprano who also successfully sang the soprano repertoire, Grace Bumbry recorded on four labels and sang in concerts worldwide.

Judge Bernice Donald
The first black woman elected to the Tennessee Judiciary.

Jan'et DuBois
(Honorary)
Actress - Accomplished actress/singer/artist, best known for her role as Wilona on the long running show "Good Times," has had a role as the grandmother in the WB's show "The Wayan Brothers", and is now the voice of Mrs. Avery on the show "The PJ's", won an Emmy for her voiceover. Sang the theme song "Movin On Up" on TV series "The Jeffersons." Best known for her role as Wilona on the long running show "Good Times. She was also in a recurring role as the grandmother in the WB's show "The Wayan Brothers".

Thelma Duggin

Political Activist - one of the Public Liaison staff people appointed at the beginning of the Reagan Administration, with a portfolio consisting of blacks and youth. In 1982, she became the second Director of the Fifty States Project for Women, a White House project formed to help identify and change state laws that discriminated against women.

Dr. Alyce Gullantee
The first black psychiatrist to receive an Emmy.

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Freddye Henderson
The first black owner of a travel agency in the U.S.

Lullelia Harrison
The first executive secretary of any of the greek letter organizations.

Zora Neale Hurston
Anthologist, Writer and Folklorist - One of the leading figures of the Harlem Renaissance, Zora Neale Hurston has been recognized as one of the premier writers of her day. Her legacy is now recognized at the Zora Neale Hurston Festival held every year in Eatonville, Florida - her birthplace.

Syleena Johnson
Singer - R&B singer who released her debut album " Chapter 1: Love, Pain & Forgiveness" in 2001with Jive Records. Since then, she has release "Chapter2: The Voice in 2002" and "Chapter 3: The Flesh in 2005".
Elizabeth Kootz
The first African American President of the National Education Association, former director of the Women's Bureau.

Versia Lindsay
The first woman to graduate from the School of Sciences at Atlanta University

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Clara McLaughlin
President/CEO of East Texas Television - The first African-American woman to own and operate a television station.

Ester C. Payton

The first treasurer of ACHR.
Wendy Palmer

WNBA Basketball Player for the Detroit Shocks, Was the first woman in Virginia history to top 1,000 career points and 1,000 rebounds, finishing with 1,911 points and a school-record 1,221 rebounds. Ranked 2nd in the WNBA in Double Doubles, Led the Starzz in 1998 in scoring.

Esther Rolle

Actress - She played a feisty maid in the hit 1970s sitcom "Maude." When CBS was planning a spinoff series in which she would play a single mother, Rolle demanded that her family be led by a father. "I told them that I couldn't compound the lie that black fathers don't care about their children," she said. She is best known for her role as Florida on the long running CBS television series, Good Times. Recently seen in Rosewood.

Minnie Ripperton
Singer - Her 70s soul classic "Loving You", was entitled "A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules from the Centre of the Ultraworld" (1989). The record was eventually a hit, but its greater significance lies in its claim to being the first ever ambient house record.

Tommie "Tonei" Stewart

Actress – Actress/storyteller/performance artist - and NAACP "Image Award" nominee for her role as Samuel Jackson's wife in the film "A Time to Kill", In Heat of the Night (Aunt Etta).
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Myrtice Taylor
The First black superintendent for curriculum and instruction in the Atlanta Public Schools

Sheryl Underwood

Comedienne - Considered one of the boldest women in comedy she has appeared in shows such as Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam, BET's comicview, and the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars. She also donates 5% of all her road earnings to her beloved sorority.

Sarah Lois Vaughan

Jazz Singer - On October 1942, she entered and won the 'Amateur Night' contest held at New York's famed Apollo Theatre. She was launched on a career where she sang with such greats as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Mile Davis, Art Blakey and Budd Johnson - legendary founders of the modernist 'Be-Bop' era. Once she had gone solo - as she was to stay for the rest of her career - she began to establish herself as a force in her own right.

Dionne Warwick

Singer - Among her other hits are the #1 "Then Came You" (with The Spinners) and the Grammy-winning "That's What Friends Are For" (with Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder and Elton John). She earned seven Top 40 singles in the Eighties alone. Overall, she's garnered one platinum, five gold albums (including 1985's Friends) and five Grammy Awards.

Edythe White
The first woman to serve on the Jackson, Alabama City Council.

Sheila Williams
The first black female news and public affairs director for two radio stations simultaneously

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