By: Anna S. Bright
“Service and sisterhood have been the cornerstone of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® since 1908. With the theme ‘Soaring to Greater Heights of Service and Sisterhood,’ the 2022-2026 administration seeks to build upon Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s rich legacy of service by galvanizing our sisterhood of more than 120,000 active members to lead on the front lines of change, education, and advocacy” (aka1908.com). This administration has six initiatives, one of which is Enhance Our Environment. One of the areas of focus for this initiative is tree planting. Therefore, for one of its first projects locally, on Saturday, April 15 some of the members of Xi Omega Omega Chapter of the sorority gathered at Forest Hills Elementary School to plant a rosebush and place a standing plaque in memory of La’Gayla Sonta Smalls-Reed, who was a member and a president of this chapter. She departed this life on October 11, 2011. Mrs. Smalls-Reed was a 1990 graduate of Walterboro High School. She received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from South Carolina State University. After having served eight years at the South Carolina Department of Social Services, she joined the Colleton County School District and served for ten years at Black Street and Forest Hills Elementary Schools. She was a dedicated, devoted, and much loved counselor at her schools. Even though she was a diligent educator, she found time to be involved in her community. A long-time member of Wesley Grove United Methodist Church in Cottageville, SC, she served as chair of the usher board. Further, she was a member of the South Carolina Counselors Association, Leadership Colleton Alumni, and a former board member of the Colleton County Arts Council. On hand, along with members of the sorority for this momentous planting of the rosebush, were her mother Mrs. Lula Smalls, who is also a member; her brother, David Smalls; and her three daughters’ father, Fred Reed. One of her daughters, Karrington Reed, is now a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. ® Xi Omega Omega Chapter has plans for other plantings in Colleton County and surrounding areas. Victoria Folk is the chair of the committee for this initiative. The chapter’s president is Sylvia Joy Williams.
