Line Sister Focus: Raymonia

#15 - "Baby Girl" - Raymonia T. Mathis

Line Name (s) and how you got them:
I was #15 "Baby Girl" - was told I was "preserved and protected" by my oldest sister who pledged at Morris Brown in '89.  I was also frequently called I.T.I.A.A.D.(pronunciation sounds like idiot but it stood for "I think I'm already a Delta.") - The big sisters gave me this name because of the content in my letter of interest.

What's your favorite memory online?
One memorable moment was when they took us on the yard one night and had us in a circle holding hands around a small pile of bricks.  I remember DP Adenika looking very serious telling us that this was our plot and I could see out of the corner of my eye that she was doing everything she could to hold in her laugh.  I thought she was the meanest until that night.

Here's where you BRAG about yourself. 
Since Spring '95, I have received two degrees and will be finished with my third in December.  I am ten years into my second career as a Mathematics teacher.  Although I am leaning towards leaving the classroom, I was chosen as this year's Teacher of the Year at my school.  Also, after being addicted to the creamy crack for over 20 years, I finally decided to go natural and am loving it!!

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 1995 self? 
I would tell my 1995 self to not take everything so serious and to let go of fear and just go for it.

What's the one thing every woman should have ...and what's the one thing every Delta woman should have.
Every woman should have that one friend that they can go to for any and everything. 

Every Delta woman should have a few or a chapter of sorors around them that are still committed to providing sisterhood, scholarship, and service.

Name one thing on your bucket-list that you will complete during our 20th Anniversary year? Related to Delta or not. 
I've always wanted to go to Vegas.

What line sister(s) do you wish you would have gotten to know better during our process?
I carpooled with Adrienne and Chantelle while on line, but I never really got to know any of my other line sisters from the back of the line.

Does your line name still fit?  If not, what name would you give yourself today?
No, my line name does not fit anymore.  I would give myself a name that reflects that fact that I am always working to improve myself so that I can continue to be of service to others.

Line Sister Focus: Tijuana

#13 - "2-The Point" - Tijuana Lynn Sowell

Line Name (s) and how you got them:

Tijuana Lynn Sowell #13 "2-The Point"; Mama DP Adenika gave me my name before we got on line.  She was prepping us about our do's and don'ts relating to our appearance and folks kept asking questions (not getting the hints).  So, I bluntly told someone to get their hair relaxed before we start line.  Mama DP said, "You are so blunt! You are 'To the Point!', that is your line name!"

What's your favorite memory online?

I have many; I remember the night after our interviews during a MBC basketball game and Mama DP cam around and told the majority of the line, who was in attendance, to go sit in a certain section of the gym during the game --Delta line picking (although some who were picked didn't make the line).

After leaving from a set at Omar's we had to pull behind the Towers because two LS's wanted to bang it OUT!

Riding back to school (on Spring Break) from Ohio with Tiffany and Alex and hearing that Easy E had AIDS and once we arrived at school we had to meet in Jordan Hall dressed in white waiting on Tammy to get there ...but she "Missed the Bus!" *Who remembers that Easy E died on the night we crossed, March 26th at 6:35 pm.

Here's where you BRAG about yourself. 
I have truly embraced the good and bad decisions I made in my life, but most of all I have NO regrets!  I appreciate my growing pains, the wisdom and strength gained to overcome!  I love ME and being a witness to God's divine plan!  I love being a parent to two amazing kids Ellis Jr. (16) and Mahogani (12), who have given me the greatest job on earth ...being a MOM!

Chairing Columbus Alumnae Delta GEMS committee, I along with Gamma Zeta Soror Toni Hick (Spr '01) won NPHC award for Outstanding Service in Education for our work with the Delta Gems this past Sorority year!  My motto "not what we have, but what we enjoy constitutes our abundance!"  I enjoy giving of myself to others and I enjoy having a very RICH group of sister/girl friends/ls's/sorors that i cherish who help me live out that abundance!

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 1995 self?
Save money and pay for your Diamond Life installment before it goes away! Membership into Delta Sigma Theta is a Lifetime and Financial commitment --being an active DELTA costs money.  Think of Delta beyond Gamma Zeta, beyond Morris Brown College. We joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. not Gamma Zeta (Sorority).  Get linked up with an Alumnae chapter, learn about real Delta business. 

What's the one thing every woman should have ...and what's the one thing every Delta woman should have?
In a relationship every woman wants 3 things, "Eyes that won't cry, Lips that don't lie and Love that won't die".

Every Delta woman should be active and financial (with a membership card and a current year sticker), a strand of cream pearls and a Soror sister friend that she can confide in, lean on and pray with!

Name one thing on your bucket-list that you will complete during our 20th Anniversary year? Related to Delta or not.
God said that he will give you the desires of your heart and my desire is to move to North Carolina within the next 6-8 months. A new location and new beginnings, and I am excited to see what God has in store for me!

What line sister(s) do you wish you would have gotten to know better during our process?
I have been blessed by many wonderful developing relationships over the years with many of our line sisters; whether it's opening their homes during MBC's homecomings, inviting you on prayer lines, sending uplifting text messages, having dinner when I come in town (ATL) for the weekends, painting at ceramic stores and making a point to hang out with me during my spring/summer visits.  Hosting vision board parties, fellow*shipping with me in Columbus, Ohio (Matu, Morgan, Katrina and Tiffany).  Connecting when I show up in Chi-town for Easter and looking for our Founders' grave in a cemetery and having my "front" text me out of the blue (RED) to say, "I don't know what you going through but know that I love you and I'm praying for you!" We can't go back, but I would definitely extend an olive branch to #7, #14, #15, #17, #20, #21, #23, #25, #28 and #30.

Does your line name still fit?  If not, what name would you give yourself today?
Yes, my line name still fits me to this day.  I am often told that I am very straight forward.  I don't  pull punches and I let people know exactly how I feel regarding any issue, opinion or situation.  I try to say what I mean and mean what I say! Down fall ...some people can't handle the straight in your face opinions and truths.  My most important lesson is that I try to say it in/with LOVE in my tone and you can feel it from my heart and actions!

Line Sister Focus: Markisha

#12 - "Pasta" - Markisha Jones-Fleming

Line Name(s) and how you got them: 
Pasta Petite & Charlotte, #12... Never liked it until one day my #9 started calling me "Pasta" and the name stuck.  You can easily identify Sorors that are really close to me if they call me "Pasta".  If they call me any other name (amongst Sorors) then they don't really know me.

What's your favorite memory online? 
Spring break 95, the campus was deserted and everyone was off doing the typical spring break shenanigans except those of us that found a little hide-away under the bridge to practice our probate.  Boy oh boy, those were long nights filled with blood, sweat and tears but we gave the BEST probate anyone on that yard has ever seen.  EPIC is the word that comes to mind...our probate was EPIC!  I, also have VERY fond memories of Romey Rome…"Diamonds in the front, sunroof top, digging the scene with a gangsta lean..." *still cracks me up*

Here's where you BRAG about yourself.
I'm so BLESSED!  It's an amazing feat to not live a perfect life that somehow feels PERFECT!  Personally, one of the best decisions I made was when I married my husband.  He has been my safe place, biggest cheerleader and barometer for all my life altering wild ideas.  He also went half on 3 babies with me. *wink wink*  My 17, 12 & 8 year old “babies” keep me going when I want to give up.  This year I completed my first 10 mile race and plan to complete a half marathon next year.  Professionally, in three short months I graduate with my MBA (Dec 2014) and I will start my first year of law school Fall 2015.  Flaws and all….MY LIFE IS AMAZING!!!  GOD IS GOOD!

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 1995 self? 
My advice to my 19yr old self would be, “Follow your Instinct and never be afraid of obstacles that others view as failure.  Don't let fear be your stop sign; see it as a yield then regroup and keep going. You are smart enough to map out your own path.  Your desire to be great will lead you to God's purpose for you.  Trust that path and don't veer from‪ it. 

One of my favorite quotes is "Intellect will get you to the door but your Instinct will give you the strength to walk through it".  All the nights you worried were for not.  Just release it because "You made it!"     
 
What's the one thing every woman should have ...and what's the one thing every Delta Woman should have? 
Every woman should experience toe curling LOVE and every Delta should have at least one Soror that she trusts with her inner most secrets.  Otherwise, a string of real pearls to "clutch" and a membership card with a current year financial sticker *wink*

Name one thing on your bucket-list that you will complete during our 20th Anniversary year? Related to Delta or not. 
Start Law School Fall 2015 and let the fear of failure go.  I'm also looking forward to being carefree and having some fun.  2015 is my year to be uninhibited...I just want to LIVE LIFE and ENJOY myself.  I plan to smile more.  I started this year but next year I plan to be genuinely happier. 


What line sister(s) do you wish you would have gotten to know better during our process? 
All of you.  I gravitated to a select few and now see that I have alot in common with many of you.  I'm hoping this trip will start bridging that gap.  I really don't know #14 thru #30.  Let's fix that.


Does your line name still fit?  If not, what name would you give yourself today? 
No, it doesn't fit today but I can still accept it and smile when I hear it.  Lately, I have been feeling pretty BAD ASS accomplishing goals left and right so a name that reflects strength would be my choice today.