“Mother of the Movement” speaks during sorority’s founders day celebration

JACKSON, Tenn. — Saturday morning the women of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. celebrated the 94th anniversary of its founding at Butler University in 1922.The keynote speaker was Geneva Reed-Veal, the mother of Sandra Bland who died in police custody in Texas last summer.

She spoke to the audience about staying faithful during hard times. By sharing the experience of losing her daughter, she encouraged everyone to stay strong through the trails life may bring.
“I am just hopeful that somebody somewhere can take away a little piece of hope today,” Geneva Reed-Veal said. “Because with everything that’s going on, and with everybody thats just going nuts, cause I’ve got good friends who are concerned. I’m trying to tell people this is not the time to be hopeless. This is still the time to be hopeful.”

At Saturday’s brunch 32 West Tennessee pastors were honored for their service to their church and the community. Each pastor was given a plaque from sorority members.