About Us
Our national founders, friends Gwendolyn Baker Rodgers and Frankie Drayton Thomas, created an organization to bring together women with similar ideas, principles and backgrounds.
The Madison County Chapter of The Charmettes Inc. was installed by Sponsor Geneva Boynton in Tampa, Florida on April 24, 1981. Sandra Monlyn was the organizer and first President. Charter members included Cheryl Brown, Jacquelyn Haynes, Lorene E. Alexander, Edna H. Turner, Sandra E. Monlyn, Lucy Haynes, Pearlie Johnson, Vivian Davis, Lorraine Jonas, Gwendolyn T. Hubbard, Shirley T. Barfield, Evelyn H. Whitby, and Lorrita E. Turner.
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Madison County Signature Events
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Our Signature events include Annual Calendar Charm, Silver Hair Luncheon, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative March and Celebration, Black History Month Program, the Cancer Awareness Breakfast, the Community Relay for Life, and the Annual Mother/Son Dance. Our official calendar ends in June, but the work is never done. The Madison County Chapter of The Charmettes, Inc. has been instrumental in awarding yearly scholarships to local high school seniors, and sponsoring political education forums - “Meet the Candidates,” as well as summer activities for youth.
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We are continuing our rich legacy ...
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Held in the early years of the chapter’s existence (1981-1996), the Miss Black Madison County Pageant, Miss Junior Charmette Pageant, and the Mother-Daughter Pageant were designed to groom and showcase the talents of young African-American girls in Madison County. Recognizing and encouraging the Mother-Daughter was the concept behind the pageant. The Madison County Chapter proudly hosted the 15th Annual Convention, May 24-26, 1985 and the 41st Annual Convention May 16-19, 1996. Annual Oktoberfest is held in the fall in the Greenville, Florida community. In November the chapter provides tangible assistance to families in need. The goal is achieved by providing grocery store gift cards to families identified by members, the schools and social service agencies.
"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change we seek." - Barack Obama
Our Mission
The Charmettes, Incorporated is a sisterhood of dedicated women committed to improving the quality of life within our communities through advocacy, education, service and support for cancer research.
All hands in!
The vision is clear. So that we continue to provide the services offered, we invite the community to take part. In our lifetime, we want to help researchers find a cure for cancer, assist with sustaining our elders, and develop paths of opportunities for our youths.