History of The Psi Omega Chapter established August 1925
of
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. established on November 17, 1911
The founding of the Psi Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, had a unique
beginning. Charter member Brother Dr. Thomas Walter Josey was the principal member. He attended Haines
Institute in Augusta, Georgia area. Later, he attended Atlanta University then Howard University which is
where he received the Doctor of Medicine Degree in 1911. After graduating from Howard, Bro. Dr. Josey
practice medicine in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for 2 years then returned to his hometown to practice medicine
around 1913. After establishing his practice, he remembered the comments of a close friend, Supreme Grand
Founder, Brother Dr. Oscar J. Cooper, who suggested to him to charter a chapter in the Augusta, Georgia area.
Dr. Josey was a central figure in the area which allowed him to bring together the elevated minds in the African
American community. In addition to his prominent private practice, Bro. Dr. Josey served as the Medical
Director of the Pilgrim Health and Life Insurance Company. He also served on several medical associations as
their presidents. He served on the Y.M.C.A. Board of Directors and the Boy Scouts of America for which a
campground was named in his honor “Camp Josey” on Deans Bridge Road. In 1964, the Thomas Walter Josey
High School was posthumously named in his honor. When Brother Dr. Josey started to think about the
formation of the Psi Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., he looked out among some of his closes
friends and acquaintances and found 8 gentlemen with like-minded ideas and goals. He selected the following
men as future charter member:
Dr. Scipio S. Johnson who was a pharmacist, and he owned the Johnson Drug Store which he operated from his
home on Twiggs Street which is a Historical site and is still standing today. He too graduated from the School
of Medicine at Howard. Brother Dr. Josey also selected Dr. J. C. Collier, Thomas Berrien, J. A. Gabriel,
George Johnson, J.C. Mardenborough, Edgar Matthews, and T. Robinson. The friends were initiated into the
Fraternity, and later in 1925, the Charter request was granted as the Psi Omega Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi
Fraternity in the City of Augusta, Georgia. The Psi Omega Chapter was the first of the Divine 9 Greek Letter
Organizations to charter a Greek Letter chapter in the Augusta, Georgia area. In 1935, Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity was the next Greek Letter Organization to charter a chapter in Augusta, Georgia. In Psi Omega, the
overall mindset of the Brotherhood of Psi Omega was one of high aspiration. To have been chosen for
membership was looked upon as a great accomplishment for that individual brother. With that, every Chapter
meeting was considered formal which required Brothers to dress in coat and tie. In addition, when the Chapter
held events like that of Achievement Programs and the likes, Brothers were required to wear Black Tie. As a
result of the time which did not allow Black people to register in any hotel, the Chapter members took turns
hosting the visiting Brothers that came to town to speak at the Chapter events. Psi Omega has always invited
high level Brothers such as Supreme Founders, Grand Basilei, District, and State leaders. One brother would
provide housing while the others would host the evening meal(s). The actual programs were held in locations
around the city that were for Black people. In 1967, Supreme Founder Brother Bishop Love came to Augusta
for the Achievement Program; the evening meal celebration was held in the home of Brother Dr. James E.
Carter, Jr.
In November of 1925, Brother Dr. James Edward Carter, Jr. was initiated by Alpha Chapter at Howard
College. He was taught by Supreme Founders Bro. Just and Bro. Coleman. Dr. Carter, Jr. graduated from
dental school in 1930 and returned to the Augusta, Georgia area to begin his dental practice.
The Chapter was active until 1929, and then inactive for one year. To revitalize the Psi Omega Chapter,
Brother Dr. Carter, Jr. eventually organized a meeting of the local Omega men which was held in his dental
office at 1141 on 12 th Street in Augusta; the location of this office was part of the center of the Black culture.
From that meeting forward, Psi Omega grew to become one of the flagships of the South in the world of
Omega. Later, in 1937, the National Fraternity continued to grow and develop to the point of incorporating
Districts in its structural design. The 7 th District was formed with the help of Brother Dr. James E. Carter, Jr.
Moreover, regarding the formation of States in the 7 th District, Psi Omega has the distinction of being able to
say that the very first State Representative, Brother Robert Church, was initiated into the fold of Omega by the
Psi Omega Chapter. The 7 th District is composed of the States of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi.
Brother Dr. James E. Carter, Jr. continued the high standards of achievement within the World of
Omega as well as demonstrating the importance of community involvement. Noting that the Founding Charter
Members were the first shining stars of Psi Omega, Brother Dr. Carter, Jr. would have to be another shining star
on the flagship of Psi Omega. In addition to being a Life Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, in 1943, he was
elected to the office of Keeper of Finance for the 7 th District; he served for 31 years.
Brother Dr. Carter, Jr. practiced dentistry in the Augusta, Georgia area for 51 years. He was a charter member
of the 1937 Georgia Dental Society where he served as president. He also served on other Dental Societies
nationally as well as internationally. Brother Dr. Carter, Jr. served in the World of Scouting on the Local,
Regional, and National Councils. Brother Dr. Carter, Jr. was also an active member and a financial supporter of
the Y.M.C.A., the N.A.A.C.P., and United Negro College fund.
As an example of the earlier work of some of the Chapter members in the Augusta community as other
shining stars on the flagship of Psi Omega Chapter. The home of Brother Dr. S. S. Johnson has been preserved
and named as a historical site. Bro. W. S. Hornsby, Sr. has a school named in his honor. Brother Rev. Dr. C. S.
Hamilton has a street named in his honor for his service as Pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church where he
played a pivotal role in the fight for the voting rights of Black people in the area, as well as being a calming
force during the 1970s riot of Augusta, Georgia. Brother Martrice Matthew Scott, Sr. has a Public Housing
Complex named in his honor for his work with Public Housing in Augusta, Georgia. Brother Rev. Emmitt T.
Martin is noted for serving as Pastor of one of the oldest Black Churches in America, which is a historical site,
the Springfield Baptist Church which is the birthplace of Morehouse College. Lastly, Brother Wheeler C. Ervin
has a Student Residential Hall named in his honor at Paine College in Augusta, Georgia, where he served as its
business manager; he also has a senior living facility in Augusta, Georgia Laney-Walker Boulevard.
As an example of earlier community involvement of the Psi Omega Chapter; on April 26, 1962, at the 7 th
District Meeting of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., held in Savannah, Georgia, Psi Omega Chapter’s
contestant for the District’s Talent Hunt Program was a Lucy C. Laney High School senior student, Miss Jessye
Norman who went on to become a renown world-wide opera singer.
The Brotherhood of Psi Omega Chapter voted in agreement to purchase several units from the Fort
Gordon U. S. Signal Corp Army Base near Augusta, Georgia. The units were bought in 1951 and placed on the
503 Laney-Walker Boulevard site in the southeastern section of Augusta, Georgia. The interior of the units was
connected to each other in a T-shape formation and redesigned to provide a large meeting room, a lounge, and
several rooms for office space. The design also included: a locker room, 2 different sections for restrooms, a
full kitchen, and a bar counter. In November 1969, Psi Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity,
Incorporated moved into the new Fraternity House; Brother Y. N. Myers was the serving Basileus.
The brotherhood allowed private rentals of the Lounge area to members and to the public. Later,
because of the rentals, the Brotherhood decided to protect the Chapter as well as the Fraternity by creating an
incorporation to serve as an outside entity for the Chapter; it was named The Omega Fraternal Association, Inc.;
it manages all operations and functions of the Fraternity House. As a result of the changes in the business world,
the Chapter agreed to the creation of a 501c3 for tax exemption status; it was named the Psi Omega Foundation, Inc.
In 2015, under the guidance of Brother William B. Bryant, the Brotherhood decided to actively pursuit
the ideal of purchasing a new fraternity house for the sole purpose of managing the business of Psi Omega
Chapter, Inc. and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. in general, as well as for the Chapter’s meetings, brotherly
fellowship, and public rental opportunities. It was further agreed that this goal could be obtained either by
tearing down the current structure and rebuilding on the current site or securing a different location. In addition,
the purchasing of a standing building could also be considered for a new fraternity house.
In 2023, the Chapter continues to grow by way of the Membership Selection Process (MSP),
Reclamation, and Transfers. In closing, a very special act of gratitude is extended to Brother Dr. James E.
Carter, III, Historian Extraordinaire, for his first-hand account of the beginnings of the Psi Omega Chapter and
its effect on the Augusta, Georgia area. Thanks, is also extended to Brother Rev. Keith Hammond and Brother
Mark Oliphant for their review and comments.
Respectfully submitted,
Bro. Rev. Jack Anderson, Chapter Historian
2023