Virginia Union’s Sophia Foster Celebrates 75 Years of AKA Membership
One of Virginia Union University’s youngest graduates recently celebrated 75 years of membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. Sophia Esther Johnson Foster, a Martinsville, Va native and founding member of area’s Kappa Delta Omega chapter, joined the organization in 1936, and the retired schoolteacher has inspired generations of members along the way. From the Martinsville Bulletin:
Her love of poetry won her a unique place within the sorority. She wrote poems to commemorate AKA’s special events, such as the debutante ball and Founder’s Day, and for several of its members. She also held several offices, such as dean of pledges, chaplain and historian.
“Each sorority had its own reputation,” Foster said. “AKA was a group of smart women, all of them. Their occupations (they studied for) were smart occupations. The Deltas (Delta Sigma Theta) would get my head for saying this, but they were the beautiful girls. Of course, they had to be smart to get into Union.”
After college, involvement in AKA continued to be “something to do,” she said. “I’ve always taken part in the scholarship funds. I gave my money if I had any to give.
“I would encourage other girls to become AKAs” because of the way its offices and activities help develop talent and leadership skills, Foster added. “It gives a girl something to do.”
However, she can’t compare sorority life today to what it was when she was part of it: “How on earth can I know that, after 75 years?”
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