Submitted by Dr. Yvette Giles Stuart
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL –– The Delta Eta Zeta “Premier” Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Broward County’s pioneering Black Greek-letter organization, hosted a memorable “Delta Eta Zeta Day at the Museum” on Saturday, June 21, 2025.
Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, the chapter’s VIP tour and lunch at History Fort Lauderdale honored its charter members and longest-serving members, including its esteemed Crystal Doves (members with 50-plus years of service). The day offered a vibrant blend of history, sisterhood and cultural reflection.
A highlight of the day was a special surprise guest, 77-year Crystal Dove Soror Elizabeth “Betty” Munnings of West Palm Beach. Munnings captivated attendees with insights into Zeta’s early days in Southern Florida, ahead of her 99th birthday on June 27.
“I was thrilled to invite Soror Munnings, who was a distinguished educator and my mother Ruth Taylor Giles’ Bethune-Cookman College classmate (Class of 1948), to join us as a very special treat for our chapter sisters,” said Dr. Yvette Giles Stuart, who hosted the event.
As the sole surviving charter member of Bethune-Cookman University’s Mu Beta Chapter (1948) and West Palm Beach’s Delta Epsilon Zeta Chapter (1949), Munnings lives independently and still drives. Her unique perspective included recollections of attending Bethune-Cookman College in the 1940s, where she interacted with and studied under the university’s founder, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune.
Delta Eta Zeta President Vanessa Sauveur added, “Soror Munnings blessed us with her presence and shared treasured memories, having personally known several of our Delta Eta Zeta charter members.”
“Listening to our special guest, Crystal Dove Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Munnings, share her story was enlightening and encouraging,” said Murial Pierre-Louis.
A Journey Through History and Sisterhood
The event commenced with a warm welcome from Dr. Giles Stuart, who then introduced Chapter President Sauveur for greetings. Crystal Grant offered a beautiful prayer of grace, setting an uplifting tone for the day’s activities.
“This event was awe-inspiring,” Grant later remarked, “and truly helped us feel a deeper connection to our past and the foundational pillars of our sorority.”
Hughuette Shields observed, “This very special event embodied the spirit of our sisterhood, offering many the opportunity to reflect on and share tidbits of our local Fort Lauderdale Zeta Chapter’s history, especially through the voices of our Crystal Doves and other members.”
“It was great to share this memorable experience with the Sisterhood,” stated Crystal Dove Esther Baylor.
After a buffet lunch, sponsored by Dr. Giles Stuart and her husband, Zeta Male Network member Ricky O. Stuart, Cheryl Phillips, daughter of the late Charter Member Juanita C. Phillips, presented a photographic display of charter members. She shared stories and historical context about the Zeta Phi Beta members featured in these treasured photos.
Following an engaging group discussion, attendees explored History Fort Lauderdale’s “Roots of Resilience: The Journey of Black Broward,” the institution’s first permanent African American exhibit. Curated by writer and historian Dr. Giles Stuart, the exhibit highlights the Delta Eta Zeta Chapter (chartered in 1950 as Broward’s first Black Greek-letter organization). It includes a moving display on Rubin Stacy, tragically lynched in 1935, and uncle of the late Soror Anne Naves.
Attendees also viewed powerful bronze busts of the nation’s first civil rights martyrs, Harry T. Moore and his wife, Harriette V. Moore, commissioned by filmmaker Walter T. Shaw. Crystal Dove Elizabeth Munnings, who personally knew the Moores, shared that Harriette worked as a teacher in Riviera Beach, Fla., during the week, with Harry driving down from Mims, Fla., on weekends to pick her up. These Bethune-Cookman College graduates from Mims, Fla., were murdered by the Ku Klux Klan on Christmas night in 1951, their 25th wedding anniversary, when a bomb placed under their bedroom exploded.
Crystal Dove Sheryl Brown profoundly stated, “In a time when efforts to erase our history persist, events like this serve as a powerful reminder: while they may attempt to silence our narratives by removing books and altering records, they cannot extinguish the legacy we preserve through storytelling. Our voices carry our truth—and that truth endures.”
Honoring Enduring Dedication
The chapter’s venerable Crystal Doves were honored for their enduring dedication. Those attending included: Hattie Whitmire (66-year Dove), Esther Baylor (65-year Dove), Janett Greene (61-year Dove), Katherell Morrison Gakule Wathiani (60-year Dove), Bettye Melton (59-year Dove), and Sheryl Brown (52-year Dove).
“My favorite part of the day was the recognition of members of the sorority who had been members for 50 years or more,” Cheryl Phillips reflected.
Crystal Dove Hattie Whitmire affirmed, “A greater love for my Zeta family has resulted from sharing this experience with our Sisterhood.”
Crystal Dove Sorors Mattie Whitfield, Darnella McDaniel, Mary Hiers, and Linda Carter were unable to attend.
Current chapter officers present at the event included President Vanessa Sauveur, First Vice President Maxine Dalen, Treasurer Estelle McGregor, Trustee and incoming Executive Board Chair Heidi Brocks, and incoming Historian Dr. Yvette Giles Stuart.
Reflecting on the day’s profound impact, Crystal Grant summarized, “Our ‘Delta Eta Zeta Day at the Museum’ was a beautifully curated experience where the past met the present. We honored our Crystal Doves, walked through powerful history, and left feeling more connected to each other and the purpose of Zeta. It was a true embodiment of Finer Womanhood in action.”
