Under the leadership of Grand Polemarch Samuel C. Hamilton, the Grand Chapter authorized the Hartsville (SC) Alumni Chapter on September 11, 2004, as the 73rd chapter of the Southeastern Province. The chapter's chartering ceremony was held on Saturday, October 2, 2004,  under the leadership of Southeastern Province Polemarch Chester Leaks at the historic Jerusalem Baptist Church in Hartsville.

 

The chapter's charter membership roster of sixteen brothers was as follows:

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Montrio Belton                               Winfred M. Herrington Jr.                            Corey Lewis

    Wilken Benjamin Sr.                      Winfred M. Herrington Sr.                           Lynwood Lewis

Travis M. Bishop                             Alonzo Jackson                                           Marc Lewis

   Kevin Brown                                   Lawrence R. Jacobs                                    Emory Waters

     Charles Douglas Sr.                          Michael R. Jacobs                                       Bernice Wilson Jr

Thomas M. Heatley

Harris Lambert III

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Winfred M. Herrington Sr. was elected as the chapter's first Polemarch, followed by the elections of Wilken Benjamin Sr. in 2006 and Travis M. Bishop in 2008. The 2010 Polemarch elect is Leander Williamson. Roderick Ray became the Polemarch in 2012, and Corey Lewis became the chapter's sixth Polemarch in 2014. James Ford took it as the chapter's Polemarch from 2016-2018. Kevin Brown became the Polemarch in 2019-2021.

Patrick Scott is currently serving as the Chapter's Polemarch since 2022.

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In the spring of 2008, Roderick Ray became the first member to be initiated into the chapter. James Ford, Amondo Harris, Andrew Marshall, and Patrick Scott were commenced in the fall of 2008, and Francis Allen Jr. in the fall of 2009. Clarence Lee DuBose II was initiated in the fall of 2010. Chris Calloway, Rev. Thomas Milo, and Tony Kennedy were commenced in the Spring of 2011. Alexander Moore was also initiated into the bond in the Spring of 2016. Bro. Antonio Cooper and Bro. Chris McGinnis was initiated into the fraternity in the Spring and Fall 2018 Intake, respectfully. Bro Monroe Fields was initiated into the chapter in the Spring of 2019. The Hartsville (SC) Alumni chapter and all the graduate and undergraduate chapters of Kappa Alpha Psi did initiate any new members due to the "COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In 2021, Brothers Tron Williams, Dr. Rodney McKorkle, and Johnathon Parnell were in the fraternity during the Fall Intake. Brother Krishaon Jackon entered the chapter during the 2022 Spring Intake. In the Spring 2023 Intake, Stefan Cotton, Jerome Richardson, III, and Eric Hough joined the fraternity.

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Charter members Lynwood Lewis, Alonzo Jackson, and Charles Page, the oldest brother in the chapter, a 1955 Benedict College Gamma Mu initiate, entered Chapter Invisible in 2009.

 

The chapter's commitment to our local community is demonstrated through our annual food and toy drives during the Christmas holiday season for the needy, our Easter Celebration in the Park for young people during the spring of each year, health and fitness initiatives and participation in the back to school supply drive for 5k through 12 grades, with an estimated 250 recipients receiving supplies in 2010.

 

Our chapter is also involved with and financially supports the local initiatives regarding the Historic Preservation of African History/Properties in our community to include the Butler High School facilities. This effort, as well as our membership involvement in numerous boards and commissions throughout our community and the State of South Carolina, is the story of the Hartsville Alumni Chapter.

 

Submitted by,

Travis M. Bishop, Historian

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