The Birth of Rho Xi Lambda
Like other organizations before it, Rho Xi Lambda began as an idea, moved through development, and fruition. Brother Kelsey Rushing, at the time a lawyer at Ferr Smith and Associates located in Canton, Miss. shared his idea of starting a chapter of Alpha in Canton with several other Brothers: Kevin Gilbert, Terry Saul, Robert Johnson, and Curtis Robinson. In 2000, these five brothers set out on a journey to bring a chapter
of Alpha Phi Alpha to the Madison County area. Not having the necessary number of seven at the time, these brothers established a service organization known as the Men of Distinction of Madison County, which operated community service projects throughout Canton. Levi Full Gospel Baptist Church, where Brother Johnson serves as Deacon. Eventually, Brothers Reuben Myers, Ronald Green, Dr. Larry Day, and Stan Beasley joined the group, and the idea of a chapter began to move closer to fruition. With community service as its primary purpose, Men of Distinction continued its hard work throughout the community, and the group became larger. Brothers Mark Henderson, Edderick Cole, Ramel Cotton, and Dr. Percy Anderson, Jr. signed on board, and the time was right to apply for a charter with the national organization. The national board of directors of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated approved the establishment of the Rho Xi Lambda Chapter in Canton, Miss. On Nov. 5, 2005, Brothers Wesley S. Prater, Tony Davenport, Jamaal Holloway, and Gary Mitchell, Jr. joined the light of Alpha as the first initiates of Rho Xi Lambda. Since official notification, the chapter has grown from thirteen to twenty-two after six Intake Processes where new members have been inducted in the chapter. During follow-on years of steady growth, Rho Xi Lambda has been able to implement a number of successful Alpha Phi Alpha national programs within the city of Canton. Each year, chapter Brothers regularly conduct; “Go to High School, Go to College” classes at Nichols Middle School, “Project Alpha” sessions at Canton High School and the Canton Educational Services Center, and voter education and registration initiatives associated with the “A Voteless People” campaign. Rho Xi Lambda also serves Thanksgiving dinner to elderly residents at the Joe Prichard and Pat Doherity public housing complexes annually, and conducts a biennial Beautillion and scholarship pageant as well. These projects are only a few of the many programs that the chapter executes to strengthen the Canton community. With manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind” as the foundation, Rho Xi Lambda was awarded with the title of Alumni Chapter of the Year for the District of Miss. from 2006 through 2010, 2014 and 2015 at each District of Miss. The chapter has also been recognized as Alpha’s 2014 Southern Region Alumni Chapter of the Year and the 2014National March of Dimes Alumni Chapter of the Year as well! The accolades do not stop there. Rho Xi Lambda plans to continue being a viable force in the city of Canton, Madison County, the district of Miss., the Southern Region, and the United States.
