Zetas honor community members for their service

Daphne Lampley, Paula Potts

BY EMMA COOPER CAVIN, Contributor

ST. PETERSBURG — Members of the Zeta Gamma Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority honored Paula Potts, Sadie Marie Martin and Daphne Lampley for community service to the citizens of St. Petersburg.

The program was held at Harold Seltzer’s Steak House, with dinner following. Family and friends of the honorees joined the Zetas in paying tribute to these ladies who so unselfishly give time and resources to people who have a need.

Paula Potts

Potts was named Community Woman of the year.  Her occupation requires her to develop and provide wholesome activities for children. Looking at her record of service activities, she delightfully completes those tasks on the job and then continues with a number of similar activities with various community programs and church outreach organizations.

She feels her 20-year career with the Police Athletic League (PAL) has been a source of fulfillment as she easily sees results of the work that she and her co-workers do. Children’s programs are her main focus, but according to Potts, thousands of families, from small children to grandparents, have received a helping hand through the PAL programs.

“I enjoy what I do at work as well as what I do after work.  I am so happy that your organization recognizes the importance of what we do,” said Potts.

Planning and implementing activities to help others began while Potts was in middle school.  As a member of the youth leadership program at church, she was involved in outreach programs to feed and clothe those in need.

These kinds of activities are still on Potts’ list of church and community activities. The oldest of six, she is also involved in community projects with her mother and her husband, Elder Troy Potts.  She is a graduate of St. Petersburg High School.

Sadie Marie Martin was selected as Amicae of the Year.  She is a charter member and first president of the Zeta Amicae Auxiliary, a group that was organized locally in 1976.

Since 1976, Martin has been an active member and participant in all of Zeta‘s community programs and service projects, especially the Thanksgiving baskets and Ronald McDonald House projects.  She has held various offices, chaired committees and raised funds for service projects.

Martin is well known for her skill at scrap booking, as she and her scrapbooking committee received top awards at both the state and regional conferences for five years in a row.  Now a retiree, she served as a childcare worker for the Juvenile Detention Center for more than 25 years.

In addition, she did some healthcare work and acted as caretaker for relatives and friends.  Since health and well being are of the utmost importance to her, Martin has also served as a representative of Morinda Health Products and a distributor of Noni Juice.

Daphne Lampley

And last but not least, Lampley is the current president of the local chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.  The local chapter selected Lampley as Zeta of the Year. She has been a member of the organization since her college days at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

The Gibbs High School graduate has been a member of the local chapter since 1988.  During that time, Lampley has held office as secretary, treasurer, vice president and president, with four terms in under her belt.  She has also served as a state committee chairperson, regional elections committee member and regional secretary for four years.

A certified Prevention Professional through the Florida Certification Board, Lampley earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and the master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University.

She has worked for Operation PAR, Inc. for 26 years.  As a prevention service administrator, Lampley has the responsibility of supervising three programs that educate young people and adults about the dangers of substance use and also teach positive, healthy choices and strategies for handling life’s challenges.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated is a community-conscious, action-oriented organization.  For information about membership in the sorority or one of the youth or adult auxiliaries, write Zeta Gamma Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, P. O. Box 10627, St. Petersburg, FL 33733 or log on to www.stpetezetas.org.