About Chums, Inc.
That particular night, the three friends couldn't think of anything to do so they decided to form a social club and name it after their friendship "Chums."
Mary Barnes, Joyce Tate Brown, and Theodora Jackson
Chums, Inc. is a national organization that began in Norfolk, Virginia when three women - Mary Barnes, Joyce Tate Brown, and Theodora Jackson - got together in friendship and from there built an national organization that now includes our Cleveland Chapter.
The idea for Chums came about on a cold, rainy night in February of 1946. The three founders were sitting in Barnes' red Ford convertible. The war was officially over, each of the young women had a boyfriend serving in the military who wasn't home yet, and segregation was still the norm. That particular night, the three friends couldn't think of anything to do so they decided to form a social club and name it after their friendship "Chums."
Chums Cleveland Chapter was formally installed in May 1968. Since then, we have proudly served our community, given freely of our time, and lived up to the National Chums motto:
"listen to the children . . . enrich their lives."
Chums, Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides opportunities for women to meet in friendship and fun, to encourage the spirit of helpfulness, and to use their many talents in service to the community.
Chums, Inc Cleveland Chapter is a 501(c)(3) organization. Your generous gift is fully tax-deductible and will help us fund our mission to help those in need.
We welcome and encourage you to join and get involved today.
Current Members
JoAnn Wallace - President
Janet Banks
Cheryl Bobo - Past President
Delphine Boyd
Arlette Coulter
Irene Crowell
Mary Davis
Denis Dickerson
Aisha Fraser - of Blessed Memory
Marsha Yate Jackson
Odessa Johnson
Lois Lott
Elaine Martin
Myla Moss
Gwen Mullins
Judith Smith
Marsha Morrell-Smith
Beverly Riley-Tatum
Chante Thomas
Barbara Wilcher-Norton