NORFOLK CHAPTER DELICADOS The Power of a Dream - Where it All Began

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Fondly called "Ducky", Geraldine was born in Norfolk VA to Mr. and Mrs. Amos Dodson, Sr..  She graduated from Booker T. Washington HS in Norfolk.  After graduation, she attended Norfolk Division of Virginia State College and then graduated from Virginia State College in Petersburg where she graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Education.  She received her M.A. from Hampton Institute in Elementary Education.  After teaching in Ohio and many years in the Norfolk Public School System, she retired in June 1988.  She held membership in the Education Association of Norfolk and the Virginia Education Association and was an active member of First Baptist Church, Bute Street Norfolk until her death in 1988.

A founding member of Delicados, Incorporated was President of the organization in 1988 and 1989.  She was the founder of the Baltimore, MD chapter and served as its first President.  Other offices held by her locally include Recording Secretary, Historian and Parliamentarian.  She received her B.A. Degree in the area of Secondary English from Howard University in D.C. and her Master of Education degree from Coppin State College.  Shed did further study at Johns Hopkins University, Loyola College and Towson State University.  In 1991, she retired as Chair of the English Department from Laurence G. Paquin School for Teen-Aged Mothers, where she was voted "Teacher of the Year" in 1979 and received at the 1986 Mothers' Day program a plaque and certificate of appreciation for twenty years of "devoted and invaluable services rendered."   Her membership affiliation included the following:  All Saints Catholic Church Choir, NAACP, National Education Association, Maryland Teachers Association, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the Links, Incorporated.  Barbar and her Delgent remained active in the organization until her passing in 2020.

A Founding member of Delicados, Inc., Vivian received a B.A. Degree in English from Virginia State College and her M.A. Degree in Secondary Education (with emphasis in Literature) from Hampton Institute. Her career as a teacher of English included 10 years at Booker T. Washington High Scool, 2 years at Granby High School and 23 years at Rosemont Middle School.  Vivian has been actively involved in all facets of Delicados.  One of proudest Delicado moments was installation as National President of Delicados, Incorporated and having the privilege of installing the Raleigh, NC and Annapolis, MD chapters.  She was a member of the historic First Baptist Church, Bute Street, its Hospitality Club, the Georgia Jefferson Missionary Circle and the Seniors in Action.  Other affiliations included Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, Portsmouth Links, Inc., Norfolk Moles, Norfolk Girlfriends, Inc., Tidewater Coalition of 100 Black Women, Chum, Inc., Women's Division Chesapeake Chamber of Commerce, Vice President and Chapter Member of the Urban League of Hampton Roads and numerous Educational and Professioinal organizations.  Vivian was the devoted wife of the late Dr. Charles H. West, a dedicated Delgent.  Vivian passed in January, 2024.

Juanita was a founding member of Delicados, Inc. and a member of the Norfolk Chapter from its inception in 1948.  Locally, she served as a dedicated officer in every capacity.  She waqs very influential in helping to shape the Delicados of today by serving as one of the three incorporators of the organization.  Nationally, she held the offices of Chaplain and Historian.  Juanita was a native of New York.  She moved to Norfolk where she graduated from Booker T. Washington High School.  She received a B.S. degree from Virginia State College.  Juanita was an elementary classroom teacher in the Norfolk Public School System, retiring in June 1987 after 35 1/2 years of service.  She was a former meber of Basilica of St. Mary Immaculate Conception in Norfolk, where she sang in the G.W. Jones Memorial Choir, worked with the Hospitality Committee, and was a member of the Calling Committee.  Juanita regarded all Delicados as special and encouraged her sister Delicados to brighten the lives of others with their kindness, warm hearts and love and to remember the Delicado motto, "We strive not to equal, but to excel."  She urged the organization to continue local and national growth and to work diligently in efforts to help others.  She was for 54 years, married to Delgent Nathan Whitehurst, who passed in 2006.  Delicado Juanita passed September 28, 2009.

Evelyn was a founding member of Delicados, Inc. and has been associated with the club since its inception in 1948, when a card playing group of friends formed a club and named it the "Sophistocats".  In 1952, the club became "Delicados Social and Civic Club" and in 1960 the group was chartered as Delicados, Incorporated.  She has held several local offices, including Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Secretary of Archives and Historian.  On the national level, Evelyn is presently a non-voting member of the Board of Directors, a former Registered Agent for Virginia and is an Emeritus member of the Norfolk Chapter.  She has served on many National Committes and was the Handbook Chairperson when the 1954 Handbook was published.  In 2003, while serving as the National Historian, Evelyn published "A Pictorial and Written Review of National Delicados, Incorporated", a first Delicados publication of its kind.  This included the histories of activities of the ten chapters.  This founding members message has always been "that never in their wildest dreams did this card playing and civic-minded group of friends ever dream that they would have expanded to 200+ talented, foresighted and lovely Delicado "roses" who uphold the high standards of National Delicados, Incorporated.  Evelyn's hope for the future is that new chapters will join our fold and all members will continue to follow the motto, "We strive not to equal, but to excel."