Pearl Anna Neal Explained

Pearl Anna Neal
Birth Date:October 10, 1900
Birth Place:Charlotte, North Carolina
Death Date:January 31, 1978
Death Place:Charlotte, North Carolina
Occupation:Music educator
Known For:One of the founders or "Five Pearls" of Zeta Phi Beta

Pearl Anna Neal (October 10, 1900 – January 31, 1978) was an American music educator and one of the founding members or "Five Pearls" of the sorority Zeta Phi Beta in 1920.

Early life and education

Pearl Anna Neal was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, the daughter of Nora L. Neal (later Nora Caldwell).[1] She attended Lincoln Academy in King's Mountain. She graduated from Howard University's Conservatory of Music in 1922, and pursued further studies at the Juilliard School and the Chicago Institute of Music. She earned a master's degree from Columbia University in 1938.[2] She was one of the founding members or "Five Pearls" of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority in 1920, along with Arizona Cleaver Stemons, Viola Tyler Goings, Myrtle Goings Faithful, and Fannie Pettie Watts.[3] [4] [5]

Career

Neal taught in Georgia and Texas as a young woman, and taught music in the Winston-Salem public schools.[6] She was also director of the senior music majors at the teachers' college in Winston-Salem. She was also president of the Zeta Phi Beta chapter in Winston-Salem,[7] and was active in sorority activities throughout her life.[8] [9]

Neal was also a church organist and choir director, at Gethsemane AME Zion Church in Charlotte. She was named Gethsemane's "Woman of the Year" in 1974.

Personal life

Neal had a stroke at work in 1960, and required months of hospitalization and rehabilitation to play piano again. She retired from teaching in 1966, and she died in 1978, in Charlotte, at the age of 77.[10] [11] She and the other Five Pearls are honored annually by Zeta Phi Beta chapters at their "Founders' Day" programs.[12] [13] [14] The Winston-Salem branch of Zeta Phi Beta sponsors a Pearl Anna Neal Scholarship, for "minority female high school seniors who participate in the performing arts and are North Carolina residents in Mecklenburg County".[15] [16] [17]

Notes and References

  1. News: 1960-10-01 . Mrs. Nora Caldwell . 5 . The Charlotte Observer . 2023-02-20 . Newspapers.com.
  2. Book: Parks, Gregory S. . Black Greek-Letter Organizations in the 21st Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun . 2008-06-13 . University Press of Kentucky . 978-0-8131-3872-5 . en.
  3. Book: Parks . Gregory S. . A Pledge with Purpose: Black Sororities and Fraternities and the Fight for Equality . Hughey . Matthew W. . 2020-04-14 . NYU Press . 978-1-4798-5963-4 . en.
  4. Book: Mjagkij, Nina . Organizing Black America: An Encyclopedia of African American Associations . 2003-12-16 . Routledge . 978-1-135-58123-7 . 617 . en.
  5. Book: Jaynes, Gerald D. . Encyclopedia of African American Society . 2005-02-01 . SAGE Publications . 978-1-4522-6541-4 . 905 . en.
  6. News: Roseman . Demont . 1960-11-17 . Hospital Rebuilds Her Life of Music . 21 . The Charlotte News . 2023-02-20 . Newspapers.com.
  7. Book: Harry, Cheryl Streeter . Winston-Salem's African American Legacy . 2013-02-04 . Arcadia Publishing . 978-0-7385-9773-7 . 44 . en.
  8. News: 1973-02-24 . Womanhood Week . 9 . The Charlotte News . 2023-02-20 . Newspapers.com.
  9. News: Cuthbertson . James . February 27, 1975 . Zeta Phi Betas Observe 'Finer Womanhood Week' . 9 . The Charlotte Post . February 20, 2023 . DigitalNC.
  10. News: Ashley . Gwen H. . February 18, 1978 . Service of Triumph Held for Miss Pearl Neal . 7 . Winston-Salem Chronicle . February 20, 2023 . DigitalNC.
  11. News: 1978-02-02 . Obituary for Pearl Neal . 4 . The Charlotte News . 2023-02-20 . Newspapers.com.
  12. Web site: Cowles . Stephen . 2018-01-17 . Zeta Phi Beta Sorority chapter committed to four principles . 2023-02-20 . The Tidewater News . en.
  13. Web site: Zeta Phi Beta Sorority hosts annual Hattitude and Hankie Tea . 2023-02-20 . Marshall News Messenger . 31 March 2020 . en.
  14. Web site: Voleer . Thomas . January 22, 2020 . 100 years of sisterhood . 2023-02-20 . Gainesville Sun . en-US.
  15. Web site: SOD Pearl Anna Neal Scholarship Theatre Scholarship Guide . 2023-02-20 . Broadway World.
  16. Web site: 2016-07-07 . W-S Zeta branch gives scholarships at luncheon . 2023-02-20 . WS Chronicle . en-US.
  17. News: June 30, 2011 . Local Zeta Chapter Awards Scholarships . 17 . Winston-Salem Chronicle . February 20, 2023 . DigitalNC.

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