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Sisterhood stands test of time for ex-teacher

By ERNEST HOOPER
Published April 10, 2007

In one corner of Betty Jo Hayes' heart is the motto "Intelligence is the Torch of Wisdom." In the other is a good luck symbol: an elephant - trunk up, of course.

And emblazoned on that heart are the Greek letters of the sorority that has been a part of her life for 60 years: Delta Sigma Theta.

"When I became a Delta, that was just my heart," said Hayes, a former teacher at Middleton and Hillsborough high schools who at almost 80 is enjoying her golden years. "My sorority has always been the foundation of my social life.

"You believed people truly cared for you as a sister, and they did."

Delta Sigma Theta's Tampa Alumnae Chapter commemorates its 60th anniversary with a three-day celebration this weekend that features jazz artists Pieces of a Dream and actor Sheryl Lee Ralph.

For most black college students, the service sorority is part of a campus' social fabric. For Hayes, the Deltas were her entire social tapestry when she pledged at Clark College in 1947.

"The college sorority girls were very tight and close to each other," Hayes explained. "At that time, girls were not allowed to do so many of the things they're allowed to do now. I don't think anyone even had an automobile on campus."

Along with providing a social foundation for Hayes that has spanned seven decades, the sorority also gave her motivation to do for others. She learned about what to do when she entered the working world, and what she could do to help others.

"Believe it or not, segregation played a big part in our togetherness during that time," Hayes said. "We were a group of people who had to advance, so you stuck together and did everything you could to get students who came to Clark to succeed on the backs of people who didn't have the same opportunities."

Betty Jo was a great typist and worked as the sorority's corresponding secretary. That led to her to use her business administration degree to teach typing.

She spent the early part of her career doing just that at the old Middleton, where she was recruited by then-principal G.V. Stewart. Betty Jo said her typing students were among the first African-Americans to integrate the old General Telephone Co.

Betty Jo also lists state Sen. Arthenia Joyner another Delta and the late George Edgecomb, Hillsborough's first African-American judge (and a Clark graduate) among her former students.

These days, Hayes says she's going all the time. She's active at the Central City YMCA seniors programs. And cooking soul food remains one of her loves - as do the Deltas.

"I'm just so proud of these young ladies who are carrying on with the program," Hayes said. "I do enjoy doing anything I can to help, and if I don't feel like doing it, they don't bother me.

"But I do know they love me."

For Betty Jo Hayes to devote 60 years to Delta Sigma Theta says something about the organization, and about her.

That's all I'm saying.

Ernest Hooper can be reached at hooper@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3406.

Fast Facts:

The celebration

All events of the Delta Sigma Theta 60th Anniversary Celebration Weekend will be at the Florida Center and Botanical Gardens at the Florida State Fairgrounds. For details: www.deltasigmatheta tampa.org.

[Last modified April 10, 2007, 00:36:05]