Contributed
Founded at Howard University on November 17, 1911, by three students and their adviser, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, stands as a sign of brotherhood, service, and academic excellence. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is the first international fraternity founded on a historically black college/university, and the fraternity prides itself on four cardinal principles: Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift.
Fast Forward 52 years to October 10, 1963, when the Kappa Rho Chapter was established, serving the counties of Bladen, Duplin, and Sampson. These three counties have significantly benefited from the chapter’s dedication to uplift and serve others. Here at BladenOnline, we spoke with a Kappa Rho Chapter Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. member, Jerome Purdie, who was chairman of a huge community event just last month. Purdie informed us of the Kappa Rho Chapter Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Family and Friends Day, which was full of “fun, fellowship, and food.”
This annual event for each member to look forward to welcomes Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. members, their families, and the local community. Jerome Purdie, Event Chairman, ensured this was an event that everyone would enjoy and, most of all, bring the community together. On June 15, this community fun-filled event took place at Lloyd Park in Elizabethtown, North Carolina. Lloyd Park, named after Elizabethtown Mayor Pro-Tem Rufus Lloyd, is a testament to the significant work of one of Omega Psi Phi’s very own. As a result of Rufus Lloyd’s exceptional work in the community and dedication to the fraternity, he was awarded the Scroll of Honor at the Family and Friends Day, one of the highest honors a member can receive.
The Kappa Rho Chapter also awarded three 500-dollar scholarships to three high school seniors, each reserved for a deserving student from Bladen, Duplin, and Sampson County. This action highlights the fraternity’s never-ending commitment to encouraging academic achievement. Below, you will find the three scholarship recipients from each county.
Bladen County – Jair McElveen
Duplin County – Craig Herring Jr.
Sampson County – Kamari Bell
After all of the awards were presented, the fun began. Music started to play, laughter filled the air, and great games were played. For over thirty years, this beloved event has thrived, forming bonds that continue through generations and nourishing the community. Wives of Omega Psi Phi members, known fondly as ‘Quettes’, came together just as they had in previous years to contribute to Family and Friends Day.
With hearts full, connections made, and memories that will always be thought of, the Kappa Rho Chapter Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. members label this as another successful Family and Friends Day. As they continue to engage in the community through the years, the Kappa Rho Chapter remains committed to its four cardinal principles, which aim to make a meaningful difference in the lives it touches.
About Author
