ABOUT Rho Xi Lambda Chapter
Like other organizations before it, Rho Xi Lambda began as an idea, and moved through development, and fruition. Brother Kelsey Rushing, at the time a lawyer at Ferr Smith and Associates located in Canton, MS. 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. The group met at Mt. 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 services as its primary purpose, Men of Distinction continued its hard work throughout the community, and the group became larger. Brother Mark Henderson, Edderick Cole, Ramel Cotton, and Dr. Percy Anderson, Jr. signed on board, and the time was right to apply for a chapter with the national organization. On October 7, 2004, fruition was complete. The national board of directors of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated approved the establishment of the Rho Xi Lambda Chapter in Canton, MS. ON November 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 the official notification, the chapter has grown from thirteen to twenty-two after six Intake Processes where new members have been inducted into the chapter.
During the 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 the title of Alumni Chapter of the Year for the District of Mississippi from 2006 through 2010 and 2014 at each District of Mississippi Conference. 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 Mississippi, the Southern Region, and the United States.