Camden (SC) Alumni Chapter History

​

Founded to fill a vital void in local mentorship and community leadership, the Camden (SC) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. was officially chartered on September 15, 2001. Under the direction of Southeastern Province Polemarch Dr. Stanley Pritchett, eleven dedicated brothers established the chapter to bring the fraternity's core mission of achievement and youth development through the Guide Right program directly to Kershaw County.

​

Chartering Brothers & Initial Officers

• Polemarch: Dr. James L. Coleman, Jr.

• Vice Polemarch: *Lt. Tyrone James

• Keeper of Records: Howard Brantley

• Keeper of Exchequer: Chico M. Carter

• Strategus: Rev. Everett Johnson

• Lt. Strategus: DuRay Williams

• Historian / Reporter: Dr. Ransom Smith

• Charter Member: *Lt. Leroy Butler

• Charter Member: Dr. Barron O. Foster

• Charter Member: Robert Springs

• Charter Member: Cedric Cook

​

*Denotes Chapter Invisible (Deceased)

​

Genesis of the Chapter

The vision for the Camden (SC) Alumni Chapter began with a chance encounter at a local restaurant between Dr. James L. Coleman, Jr. and Lt. Tyrone James. As their families dined next to each other, a conversation began regarding local fraternity involvement. Lt. James, recently relocated to the area, asked Dr. Coleman if he was active with the neighboring alumni chapter. Dr. Coleman explained that as a Camden native, he saw an urgent, unmet need for direct fraternity presence, service, and youth mentorship specifically within Kershaw County.

​

Recognizing that his residence on Clemson Road positioned him closer to Camden than to the adjacent established alumni chapter, Lt. James pledged his full support to partner with Dr. Coleman and drive the chartering process forward.

​

Overcoming Barriers & Personal Sacrifice

• Addressing Skepticism: Critics questioned whether Camden had the financial infrastructure to sustain an independent chapter, urging local brothers to affiliate with existing alumni chapters instead.

• Personal & Financial Commitment: Undeterred by skepticism, Dr. Coleman financed essential start-up expenses out of pocket to secure the chapter’s foundation.

• Mobilizing Local Brothers: Dr. Coleman organized unaligned and inactive alumni brothers across the county to build a unified base.

• Navigating Geographical Regulations: The initial charter application was rejected because the proposed meeting site—Mount Moriah Baptist Church—measured less than the required 30-mile radius from the neighboring chapter's facility.

• Resolving Boundary Issues: Determined to meet national standards, Dr. Coleman personally drove and mapped an alternate route starting from the Kershaw County Library in uptown Camden, successfully verifying a distance exceeding the 30-mile threshold.

​

Securing the Charter & Community Legacy

• Meeting the Threshold: To fulfill national requirements, Dr. Coleman recruited and reactivated local brothers to secure the minimum roster of 10 active members needed to petition for the charter.

• Official Designation: The Kershaw County Library was formally designated on initial charter documentation as the official meeting site to satisfy administrative distance compliance.

• Charter Day Ceremony: To honor the spiritual home where the vision first took root, the official Charter Ceremony was held in the fellowship hall of Mount Moriah Baptist Church, where Southeastern Province Polemarch Dr. Stanley Pritchett officially presented the chapter charter to the founding members.