Zeta Day in Hannibal This Weekend Honors Sorority’s Founder

An internationally known sorority meets in Hannibal this weekend to honor its founder.

Members of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority have come to town from all over the country for "Zeta Day in Hannibal." The weekend is a celebration of the life and legacy of President Emeritus Founder Arizona Cleaver Stemons, who grew up in Hannibal.

Stemons left Hannibal to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C. and helped start the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority in 1920. She returned to Hannibal for a time and taught at Douglass School.

Zeta describes itself as an organization that promotes community outreach services, educating the public, helping youth, providing scholarships, supporting organized charities and promoting legislation for social and civic change.

Events taking place this weekend in Hannibal include a welcome reception and art exhibit ribbon cutting at the Hannibal Arts County at noon Friday. Also on Friday are a tour of Jim's Journey: the Huck Finn Freedom Center at 1 and a Blue and White Riverboat Cruise on the Mark Twain Riverboat at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday's events include a Zeta Day in Hannibal parade at 10 a.m., recognition of the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation at 11 a.m., a special presentation at Willow Street Church at noon and a dinner at the Quality Inn at 6:30 p.m.

The weekend concludes with a presentation at 8th and Center Street Church at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

For more information, go to midwesternzetas.org.