About River City Links


Co-Organizer
Emma Jean Hubbard Stotts


Co-Organizer
Dr. Elma Hubbard Mardis

Presidents Circle

Dr. Elma Mardis
Charlene Turner
Norma Griffin
Martha P. Beard
Beverly Robertson
Carolyn Bishop
Charlotte Freeman
Inetta F. Rogers
Carla Stotts Hills
Gale Jones Carson
Ailene Oliver Booker
Vanecia Belser Kimbrow
Michelle L. Fowlkes

Chapter History

In the fall of 1987, Dr. Elma H. Mardis and Emma H. Stotts organized a service organization called River City Sette. This group was comprised of 30 women of diverse backgrounds, interests and talents that came together with the purpose of providing service for
underprivileged youth in the greater Memphis community. Being fully aware of the high ideals and commitment to service exemplified by the national body of The Links, Incorporated, the membership voted to seek avenues for entry into that national body.

After serving as an interest group, the River City Sette celebrated induction into Linkdom on Saturday, May 15, 1993, at the historic Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. The River City (TN) Chapter became the third chapter in Memphis, the tenth in the state of Tennessee and the two hundred and forty-fourth chapter in the Central Region. National President, Marion Schulz Sutherland and Chapter Establishment Officer, Marion Sweeney installed twenty-one charter members.

Charter members were Dr. Elma H. Mardis, president; Lorraine P. Bell, Josephine A. Bennett, Lanetha C. Branch, Shirley P. Cobbins, Dorothy B. Evans, Rose Jackson Flenorl, Norma F. Griffin, Cora L. Hardy, Molly P. Long, Mary R. Lowery, Edith H. Powers,
Inetta F. Rogers, Melanie M. Stafford, Emma H. Stotts, Margaret H. Strong, Charlene M. Turner, Gwendolyn Washington-Jones, Dr. Joyce B. Weddington, Jewel G. Wilburn and Bobbie J. Worthy. Beverly C. Robertson and Sara L. Lewis were inducted at a later date in 1993.

The past presidents of River City (TN) Chapter are Dr. Elma H. Mardis, Charlene M. Turner, Norma F. Griffin, Martha P. Beard, Beverly C. Robertson, Carolyn F. Bishop, Dr. Charlotte M. Freeman, Dr. Inetta F. Rogers, Carla Stotts-Hills, Gale Jones Carson, Ailene Oliver Booker, Vanecia Belser Kimbrow, Esq., and Michelle L. Fowlkes. Patrice Myers is currently serving as the Chapter’s 14th President.

The River City (TN) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated demonstrates a commitment to the Memphis community through development and partnership on projects that enrich the lives of our fellow citizens.

The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, established in 1946. The membership consists of 15,000 plus professional women of color in 287 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. It is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of extraordinary women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry.