Pearl Anna Neal

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.

Pearl Anna Neal
A young Black woman
Pearl Anna Neal, from the 1922 yearbook of Howard University
BornOctober 10, 1900
Charlotte, North Carolina
DiedJanuary 31, 1978
Charlotte, North Carolina
OccupationMusic educator
Known forOne of the founders or "Five Pearls" of Zeta Phi Beta

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 direct of the senior music majors at the teachers' college in Winston-Salem.[2] She was also president of the Zeta Phi Beta chapter in Winston-Salem,[7] and 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.[10]

Personal life

Neal had a stroke at work in 1960, and required months of hospitalization and rehabilitation to play piano again.[6] 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]

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