Have You Met A CHUM?
By Kenya Mawusi, Agape Life Editor
updated Fri January 16, 2015
The origin of the CHUMS, Incorporated organization goes as follows:
There were three women that founded CHUMS, Inc.: “Mary Barnes, Joyce Tate Brown, and Theodora Jackson Cora. The idea for Chums came about on a cold, rainy night in February of 1946. The three founders were sitting in Barnes’ red Thunderbird convertible. The war was officially over, each of the young women had a boyfriend serving in the military who wasn’t home yet, and segregation was still the norm. That particular night, the three friends couldn’t think of anything to do so they decided to form a social club and name it after their friendship “Chums.” The trio first became friends during their college days at Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia. Although the organization began as a social club, Chums soon gained a new emphasis. The group functioned locally as a club until 1952 when it was incorporated as Chums, Inc.”
This organization, founded in Norfolk, VA, currently has over 30 chapters across the United States working within their respective communities to emphasize their national theme: “Listen to the Children.”
C - Character and charm we strive to attain.
H - Honesty and humility are always our aim.
U - Understanding and unselfishness we exhibit each day.
M - Modesty and moderation light our pathway.
However, the Hampton-Newport News chapter, founded in 1960 by Ms. Frances Richardson, are history-makers.
From Dorothy J. Phillips (founder of Phoebus Day) to Jean Bailey Braxton (National President of CHUMS, Inc.) to O’Marie Newkirk White—who thought they should have a breakfast to celebrate Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr.—this chapter of CHUMS are paving the way.
Monday, January 20, 1986, 9 a.m. at the Holiday Inn, the women of CHUMS, Incorporated held the first annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Breakfast
on the Monday of his birthday. This event is significant because not only was it the first annual MLK Scholarship Breakfast of CHUMS, but it was also the first time in Hampton, VA that employees had time off work to celebrate Dr. King’s memory.
The very first breakfast event was humble, just like the women of CHUMS. They had 40 community members in attendance, barely any money and the current city Councilwoman of Newport News, the honorable Jessie Rattley, was the key speaker. There were no gifts to give to the presenter, or a substantial amount to give to college-bound students as scholarships—look at the organization today.
Every year, the MLK Scholarship Breakfast awards numerous local high school students scholarship money to go to college. Every year, the CHUMS host over 400 people on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday to commemorate his life and legacy. Every year, a well-respected member of the Hampton Roads community speaks at the event and is honored by the CHUMS organization for all that they do for the community. It’s hard to not be impressed by the legacy of these women.
This month we had the honor of hosting an interview with the last living founder of the Hampton/Newport News chapter of CHUMS, Inc.
Kenya: “Many influential people in Hampton Roads are familiar with CHUMS, Incorporated and everything they have done for the community, but some are not aware of just how humble this organization is and was at it’s formation.”
Ms. Celeste S. Dobson, 92-years-old, paints a picture of CHUMS in the early years.
Kenya: “So how did [O’Marie White] come up with the Martin Luther King Breakfast?”
Celeste: “Oh. How she really came up with it. She was working for the city of Hampton, and she went to Washington one weekend—and she stayed too long. Over the time she was supposed to be home to go to her job. So she said that she had some friends that didn’t go to work—they worked in D.C. So they told their boss that they didn’t come to work because of Martin Luther King’s breakfast. That’s how the breakfast came about. From her not going to work.”
The women of CHUMS, Inc. were the first to hold the MLK breakfast, and the only to host it on Monday (to this day).
Kenya: “Besides the MLK Breakfast, what other CHUMS events did you enjoy?”
Celeste: “I enjoyed the meetings. I enjoyed seeing the troops, and my friends. Because a lot of us lived far apart, and during that particular time, it was very difficult getting from place to place unless you were driving. So, we would get together and play bridge or play pinnucle.”
Kenya: “Where did the term ‘HUMS’ come from?”
Celeste: “I guess when you say CHUMS, you can say HUMS. They just made it up, I guess. But, we would go to meetings, and our husbands would come and pick us up. Then, they would sit around and play cards. There was one fellow that knew where they could get a little liquor. The men they would play cards and drink, and they decided, “This is a good idea... We don’t have to sit around a wait on [our wives].” Atleast, that’s the way I see it.
Kenya: “How did you get involved in the CHUMS organization?”
Celeste: “I was just a member of the gang. Frankie and ... there were four of us that were just friends. And we were just buddies. That’s how we got together.”
Chums, Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides opportunities for women to meet in friendship and fun, to encourage a spirit of helpfulness, and to use their many talents in service to the community. For more information about this organization, visit www.chums-inc.org.
