Asheville Chapter of the Links Inc. Celebrates 25 Years of Service

Members of the Links of Asheville. Front Row (L-R): Elaine R. Beattie, Vice President, Barbara Jones, Mildred Morris, Willie Vincent, and Raynetta Waters, President. Back Row: Charlotte Cato, Carol Goins, Diane Mance, Myrna Casey, Sharon Pitts, and Stacey Kelly.   Photo: Urban News
Members of the Links of Asheville. Front Row (L-R): Elaine R. Beattie, Vice President, Barbara Jones, Mildred Morris, Willie Vincent, and Raynetta Waters, President. Back Row: Charlotte Cato, Carol Goins, Diane Mance, Myrna Casey, Sharon Pitts, and Stacey Kelly.
Photo: Urban News

On Friday, December 13, 2013, the Asheville Chapter of the Links, Incorporated celebrated its 25th anniversary and recognized nine women who have been members since the chapter’s inception: Rosa Davis, Annie Harrison, Annye Holt, Mabel Hoskins, Barbara Jones, Mildred Morris, Lettie Polite, Julia Ray, and Willie Vincent—who is still an active member serving on the board. The Chapter received a resolution of congratulations from Links National President Margot James Copeland.

The event also celebrated the many programs and service projects the Asheville Chapter of the Links has sponsored throughout the Asheville community based on their program facets including Arts, Health, International Trends and Services, National Trends and Services, and Services to Youth.

The Links is an international not-for-profit corporation, founded in Philadelphia, PA in 1946 by Margaret Rossell Hawkins and Sarah Strickland Scott, committed to improving the quality of life for others through service and advocacy at the local, regional, national, and international levels. Members are influential decision-makers and opinion leaders, business and civic leaders, activists, and volunteers who serve as role models and mentors working toward a common vision by engaging like-minded organizations and individuals in partnership.

MANNA Food Bank Executive Director Cindy Threlkeld (far left) with the Asheville Chapter of the Links during MANNA’s holiday fundraising event.  Photo: Urban News
MANNA Food Bank Executive Director Cindy Threlkeld (far left) with the Asheville Chapter of the Links during MANNA’s holiday fundraising event. Photo: Urban News

Now comprising more than 12,000 women of color in 276 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Bahamas, and Germany, the Links is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations. Members are committed to enriching, sustaining, and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry.

The Asheville chapter began as an interest group called WISS (Women Interested in Service & Success Club) in 1986. Nan Delany Johnson, a member of the Links before moving to Asheville, immediately set about inviting 25 ladies in the community “to attend the premier meeting of this interest group, on Sunday, August 24, 1986 at 6 p.m. in (her) home…”

For two years, the Asheville chapter met on the second Tuesday of each month at Downtown City Club (then in the BB&T Bank Building). The group was officially chartered as the Asheville Chapter of the Links, Incorporated at an elegant celebration on December 10, 1988 at the Grove Park Inn.

Barbara Jones was installed as the first president of the Asheville Chapter; the other officers were Anne Holt, Vice-President; Lettie Polite, Secretary; Zenobia Jones, Treasurer; Deborah Weaver, Financial Secretary; Rosa Davis, Corresponding Secretary; and Willie Vincent, Parliamentarian.

Other charter members were Jeanne Bowman, Lucille Burton, Wanda Coleman, Francine Delany, Louise Edington, Josie Gilliand, Annie Harrison, Louise Hart, Mabel Hoskins, Nan Delany Johnson, LaGretta Keaton, Jacqueline King, Mildred Morris, Julia Ray, Wanda Redmond, Diane Wilson, and Debra Weaver.

“The Asheville Chapter of the Links looks forward to 25 more years of Leading with Excellence and Serving with Grace,” said Links President Raynetta Waters.