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.