History

When faced with the possibility of establishing a chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. in the Hampton Roads area, Mrs. Helena Lynch Dodson answered the call in December of 2003. Fifteen prospective ladies met at the home and were given an overview of the organization. After the original meeting and confirmation from fifteen ladies and one possible reactivated lady, Mrs. Dodson, the Chapter Organizer, and the Area II Director, Lady Beatrice Watford, started planning for the chartering of this new chapter.

The Hampton Roads Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. received its charter on Saturday morning, September 24, 2004, at the Spring Hill Suites by Marriott in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Tenth National President, Lady Peggy Lewis LeCompte, performed the chartering ceremony, with Lady Beatrice Watford – National Area II Director, Lady Deloris James - Area II Chaplain, and Lady Ruth Easley - Area II Affiliate Representative, in attendance to assist with the chartering. The thirteen charter members were: Helena Dodson, Joan Lynch, Belinda Whittaker, Patricia Cason, Clarice Sharp, Gloria Adderly, Kisha Dodson, Angie Hawkins, Ollie Wilson Kassey, Carmela Porter, Marie Webb, Alberta Williams, and Hartense Harrison (deceased). The Hampton Roads Chapter is currently comprised of ladies from seven cities in Southeastern Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina.

Over the last eighteen years the Hampton Roads Chapter has grown to a membership of 34 members, under the leadership of the following presidents: Lady Helena Dodson 2004 - 2013, Lady Carolyn McKie 2013 - 2017, Lady LaValette Boney 2017 – 2021. The current president is Lady Ingrid Watson Miller. Additionally, several chapter members have chaired or held National/Area offices. These include Lady Helena Dodson, as the National Partnership Chair (2005-2008), the Area II Representative to the Franchell Boswell Foundation (2009-2010), the National Area II Director (2013-2017), Chairperson of National Area Directors Council, National Community Partnership Chair, National Resolutions Chair, Area II Fundraising Chair, and Area II Scholarship Chair. Lady LaValette Boney served as the Area II Website Committee (2009-2011), Area II Top Lady of the Year (2009 – 2010), Area II Assistant TTA Advisor (2013-2015), Area II Recording Secretary (2015-2017), Area II President’s Council Chair (2019-2021), National NAACP Co-Chair (2019-2021), and she is currently the Area II Director of Operations. Lady Joan Lynch was elected as the Area II Corresponding Secretary (2013-2018), and Lady Patricia Cason served as the Area II Top Teen Advisor (2017-2021).

We, the members of the Hampton Roads Chapter, maintain our Five Star status by ensuring that we focus on the major thrust of Top Teens of America by including them in all projects. One of our signature events is donating items, such as hats, gloves, books, and school supplies, to the Hunton YMCA (the oldest African American owned Y in the country). Other activities include assisting the seniors at Lynnhaven Cove Senior Community with various activities, such as their cell phones, heart/diabetes/hypertension education as well as teaching the proper way to stand after a fall and chair exercises (all pre-covid). We also participate in the annual walks for St. Jude’s, the March of Dimes, Sickle Cell and American Heart Association. Additionally, we have cleaned the African American war- hero section of Elmwood Cemetery and placed flags on their graves for Veterans Day. Pre-covid we partnered with the Berkeley Community Center annually to serve Thanksgiving dinner to the Berkley Community.

Our Top Teens are members of the Chesapeake Branch NAACP. They serve as ushers for the Annual Freedom Fund and Jubilee. They currently hold several positions in the NAACP youth group.

The current Area II Teen President and First Vice President are members of Hampton Roads -- Teen Joshua Davenport and Teen Jira Gardener, respectively. Although our chapter is small, we make a mighty impact in our community with our service. We keep to the TLOD Mission “to enhance and enrich the lives of youth and adults through community-based programs and projects.” We measure our success by the improved quality of life, experienced by the people we serve.