About Us
OUR HISTORY
The Early Days
In the year of 1959, in the city of Richmond, Virginia, twelve young ladies gave birth to their vision and founded this organization, the Young Women’s Christian League (the “League”). The founders - Mary Jackson Watkins (deceased), Jean Harrison Trimiew, Phyllis Allen Taylor, Juanita Williams Roane, Sarah Jenkins Pitchford (deceased), Dorothy Harrison Mines, Catherine Stokes Mankin, Glenna Branch Loving, Lucy Brooks Jones, Antoinette Dudley Hammond, Irene Smith Green (deceased), and Dahlia Yates Briggs (deceased) - organized on the belief that they could make a difference in the community by serving the less fortunate. The motto was "Others Rather Than Self." Three more ladies shared the vision and attended the League’s first official meeting. In addition to the founders, Florence Brown Morgan, Vinceretta Jones Davis, and Delia Anderson Coleman were named charter members. ! After fifty years of service, four of the founders and one of the charter members continue to be active in this organization.
Because of her optimistic influence and the enthusiasm she conveyed during the founding and subsequent years, Maude Ivey Taylor (deceased) was named Honorary Founder. The League could always count on her devoted love, support, and encouragement.
The League sisters began their service by focusing on individuals who needed assistance and partnering with other organizations who served those in need. A few of the recipients included the Baptist Children’s Home, Richmond Community Hospital, NAACP, Richmond Public Schools, Virginia Sickle Cell Anemia Awareness, and the Janie Porter Barrett and Bon Air Learning Centers. This organization provided support to individuals through Thanksgiving and Easter baskets, Christmas and birthday gifts, and other offerings and donations. Additionally, youth seminars, carnivals and special programs honoring mothers were customary events. In order to fund these programs and projects, the League sisters set in motion memorable traditions such as the “Junior League Contest” and the “Miss Teen Queen Pageant” that would continue for many years.
The first volunteer service project was with Meals on Wheels. Soon after, League sisters were involved in the “Adopt-A-Patient” program at MCV (now named VCU Medical Center) where “I Care” packages were distributed, and involved in bringing cheer to those in the Afro American Nursing Home. The League accepted a more active role in the Richmond Council of Women’s Organizations and volunteered in the Prison Visitation Ministry (now called Assisting Families of Inmates).
The League sisters became so energized and enthusiastic that they were nicknamed “The Steamboat Sisters.” A special emphasis was placed on the sisterhood by holding annual rededication services. The sisters had a feeling that God was watching over them to have accomplished so much with so few. The joy of the Lord was their guiding spirit as they walked the corridors of service and lived the motto of "Others Rather Than Self."
The Growing Years
Each year the League supported the Martin Luther King Learning Week activities. The community service activities continued through involvement with the Daily Planet, Virginia Foodbank, Christmas Mother, Better People, Inc., scholarships, prayer breakfasts, nursing homes, and adopting families and individuals.
The League began the observance of Founders Day. And, a special recognition of honorary members was initiated. Because of the outstanding support of the League programs and activities, the first person to receive the honor was Estelle Hayes Clarke (deceased). Later, the honor was bestowed upon Archie Lee Harris (deceased). The League also recognized and named a third honorary member, Amigo Ricardo Wade, Esq. All have contributed diligently to the League and supported its mission of service to others.
In 1981, the League sisters felt the need to reach out to younger ladies between the ages of eighteen and thirty. The “Golden Hearts” group was launched and their individual and collective love and talents enhanced the League. With a vision for the future and hopes of expanding even more, the League decided to reorganize into chapters. In 1984, the original group of sisters became known as the Imprimis Chapter (meaning “first”) and the Golden Hearts retained their name.
In 1994, five new chapters were organized. The Lilies of the Valley, the Angelic Pearls, the Royal, and the Faith Chapters were all organized in Richmond , and the Women of Virtue Chapter in Atlanta, Georgia. In the year of 1997, the New Life Chapter was organized in Richmond. In 2000, another chapter, the Daughters of Zion, was organized in Oakland, California. There were a total of nine chapters spanning Virginia, Georgia, and California.
As in life, people come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Within in the League, the seasons changed and nine chapters became six. The six active chapters continue to feel a strong commitment to the ideals, aims and goals of this organization.
A Golden Time
The League went on to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary and its fifty-fifth - golden occasions, glorious times! The sisters delighted in achieving the milestones of devoted service to “Others Rather Than Self.” For over fifty magnificent years, this organization endeavored to help others by sponsoring and supporting religious, civic, cultural, and educational activities - with graciousness and dignity. The League sisters realized that success could not have lasted for so long without support from so many who have blessed this organization to bless others.
In 2017, several young ladies expressed an interest in organizing two new chapters. The Renascent Chapter was initiated in 2018 and the Divine Diamonds of Faith Chapter in 2019. The League is thankful to have kept the vision alive for sixty years and looks forward, with God’s grace and His mercy, to continuing this tradition of service.
Celebrating A Diamond
With this sixty-year celebration, the League sisters pause to reflect on this milestone of sisterhood, service, and love and declare “For You are our hope, O Lord God; we have had faith in You from the time when we first began.” We proclaim “O God, You have been our teacher from the time when we were young; and we have been talking of Your works of wonder even till now.” This bond of sisterhood exclaims “Thy righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens because Thou hast done great things!”
Each League sister has pledged to do God some definite service; to perform the work that God has committed only to her. She feels that she has a part in a great work. She is a link in the bond of sisterhood which connects her to every other sister. She prays that she will always be mindful of her obligations, trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and be truthful to the extent of her ability to all known duties and responsibilities devolving upon her. She endeavors to be regular in her attendance, cheerful in sharing her service, wholehearted in her giving, open minded in her planning, patient in the face of difficulties and always represent herself as a respectful and friendly person.