History

The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation founded in Philadelphia, PA in 1946 by Margaret Rosell Hawkins and Sarah Strickland Scott.  The Asheville Chapter of the Links was founded some 40 years later, first as an interest group on August 24, 1986.  This group named themselves the WISS or Women Interested in Service and Success as they worked their way through the two years of service required to become a new chapter.  The first photograph below shows the governing body of the interest group.   Two years later, the official chapter finally received its charter on December 10, 1988.  The National President of the Links Incorporated at that time was Link Regina Jollivette Frazier and the induction ceremony was conducted at the Grove Park Inn by a team from National Headquarters. 

The charter members of the new Asheville Chapter were Barbara Jones, who was installed as the first president; Ann Holt, Vice President; Lettie Polite, Secretary; Zenobia Jones, Treasurer; Deborah Weaver, Financial Secretary; Rosa Davis, Corresponding Secretary; and Willie Vincent, Parliamentarian.  Other charter members were Jeanne Bowan, Lucille Burton, Wanda Coleman, Francine Delany, Louise Edington, Josie Gilliland, Annie Harrison, Louise Hart, Mabel Hoskins, Nan Delany Johnson, LaGretta Keaton, Jacqueline King, Mildred Morris, Julia Ray, Wanda Redmond and Diane Wilson. These ladies are pictured in the second photograph below following the ceremony.

The early service project focused on working with girls in the Asheville City school system, and in the early years of our chapter’s 30 year history, performing arts were very central to many of the initiatives and activities undertaken by the chapter. The attached flyer shows an advertisement for a 1990 show sponsored by our chapter. 

In the new millennium in addition to the focus on the arts, the Asheville Chapter continued its focus on the mentoring of young girls with  a number of new initiatives such as Saturday School which included SAT test prep for high school students; tutoring in math and reading for elementary school students. 

In 2002 the chapter joined with the YMI to raise funds to support the Ebony Fashion Fair Extravaganza which benefited historically black colleges and universities.  Over the years, health and wellness initiatives became more important both nationally and for the Asheville Chapter.  The chapter has participated in walk-a-thons, roundtables on nutrition and physical activities collaborating with  ABCCM and ABIPA supporting  education about HIV/AIDS and related social issues.

Over its history, the Asheville Chapter also received several awards in the early new millennium in recognition of chapter programs in the community and the National Friendship Award for our celebration of Friendship Month.

The Asheville Chapter has been led by women of courage, wisdom and tenacity; Barbara Jones, Annye Holt, LaGretta Keaton, Theresa (Diane) Mance, Helen Branson, Joann Smith, Janet Bowman, Diane Mance (again), Raynetta Waters, Diane Mance (again), Sharon West and then Diane Mance (again) The 4th time is the charm!

For the first time in its history, an Asheville Chapter member received the competitive and coveted Scott-Hawkins Leadership Institute Grant.  Our very own Raynetta Waters was the chapters first recipient and served as the president of the Asheville Chapter.  Raynetta went on to be elected as the Nominations Chair for the Southern Area Region of the Links, Inc., and our chapter proudly celebrated Link Raynetta Waters being voted in as Chair of the National Nominating Committee.  We are so very proud of Raynetta and appreciative of the recognition her national service brings to the Asheville Chapter.

We look forward to building upon the foundation left to us by those thirty ladies who worked so had at establishing our chapter.  It is our desire to continue in friendship, engagement, mentoring and creating more history and memories of service to the Asheville Community!