Cordia E. Mackey of Texarkana was inducted into the prestigious TLOD organization. In June 1966 Mrs. Mackey and Mrs. Lena P. Jones encouraged a group of ladies in the Texarkana area to assist in the founding of the Twin City Chapter of TLOD. Texarkana’s chapter was the fifth to be established in TLOD, Inc. Twin City Chapter gets its name from the fact that Texarkana is a border city, straddling tw
o states (Texas and Arkansas) which are separated by State Line Avenue and a U. S. Federal Post Office which also has a state line running through the middle of the lobby of the building. Both have their own organized governmental offices. Twin City Chapter is comprised of members from both sides of the state line as well as adjourning towns. Charter Members
Lady Lena P. Jones Lady Bell Collins
Lady Cordelia Mackey Lady Helen McNeal
Lady Mary Thompson
Lady Bette Preston
Lady Lena P. Jones served as the first President. Other Past Presidents include: Lady Helen McNeal, Lady Lorene Bell, Lady Mae Patterson, Lady Ruth Blackwell, Lady Ruth B. Stokes, Lady Asa Starlings, Lady Roseland Lattier. The current President is Lady Barbara Larry. The Twin City Chapter has been actively involved in the Texarkana community for over 56 years. Since its founding, Twin City Chapter has provided support in our local communities with the objectives of improving the status of women, service to senior citizens, community beautification, community partnership and our main focus, our youth. We award a scholarship each year to a graduating Top Teen. The first youth group was organized locally on July 20, 1966 and Mrs. Mackey gave them the name, “Top Teens”. At a later Area meeting in Fort Worth, TX, the organization adopted the name for all organized Top Teens of America groups. Our chapter has partnered for over fifteen years with the Texas Highway Department in sponsoring the clean-up of a 2 mile stretch of highway in Bowie County. We support our Top Teens in serving an annual meal at Randy Sams Homeless Shelter; providing personal hygiene items to residents in local nursing homes, and our Top Teens have participated in the local NAACP’s Annual MLK Community Celebration program. We have been in partnership with The Recovery Ministries International for our Literacy Program and annual visits at an HBCU or other University for our Top Teens.
