Greater Rising Star Grand Chapter, O.E.S
History 1993-Present
Greater Rising Star Grand Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, was founded under the dynamic leadership of the late Grand Matron, sister Marguerite Hunter and the Illustrious Brother Troy Stowe, as Grand Patron, in Detroit, Michigan, in September 1993. Sister Annie Pearl Lattimore and Illustrious brother Samuel Terry served as Associate Grand Matron and Associate Grand Patron respectively. The Grand Chapter started with 18 subordinate chapters, which were located in Detroit, Jackson and Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In need of a place to meet, Dr. Clifton Booth of the Urban Bible Institute on the east side of Detroit opened his doors to Greater Rising Star as a temporary home for the Grand Chapter; the first meeting was held in September of 1993. The Grand Matron and Grand Patron worked hand in hand to strengthen the organization until the death of Brother Stowe in 1993 and Grand Matron Hunter in January 1994.
Upon the death of the Grand Matron, the Associate Grand Matron, Annie Pearl Lattimore picked up the mantle and completed Grand Matron Hunter's term of office with Worthy Matron Lue Ida Jones serving as Associate Grand Matron and Brother Mark Hunter as Grand Patron. The Illustrious Brother Samuel Terry was appointed as Associate Grand Patron.
In May of 1994, Sister Lue Ida Jones was elected Grand Matron of Greater Rising Star Grand Chapter and Sister Annie Pearl Lattimore, the Associate Grand Matron. Brothers Mark Hunter and Samuel Terry were reappointed to their offices. The four worked together until their term ended in 1997.
Desiring a place of their own in 1995 the Grand Chapter began to look for a new meeting place. The late Worthy Matron Ire P. Davis, because of her love for her Grand Chapter, presented a piece of property to the organization as a gift, which become the new home of Greater Rising Star. Quickly realizing a need for expansion, Greater Rising Star Grand Chapter and Joshua Grand Lodge purchased three adjoining lots on which to build a new temple. Recognizing our need for a larger place to meet, Pastor Marion Myers, Sr. offered Morning View Baptist Church as a temporary site to hold larger meetings. IN 1996 during the state session, Worthy Matron Darnette Leak was appointed Deputy Associate Grand Matron, by Dr. Elizabeth Moore and Grand Matron Jones to assist Associate Grand Matron Lattimore who was experiencing health challenges, at the time.
During the 1997 State Election, Deputy Associate Grand Matron Darnetta Corbin-Leak was elected as Grand Matron of the Grand Chapter and Worthy Matron Louella Moore as the Associate Grand Matron; Brother Mark Hunter and Samuel Terry continued in their offices as Grand Patron and Associate Grand Patron respectively.
Sister Louella Moore ascended to the office of Worthy Grand Matron of the Grand Chapter in 2000 where she served the Grand Chapter until 2003 and Sister Jessie Vance-Harris as her Associate Grand Matron. Brother Gradie Grier was appointed to the position of Grand Patron.
Sister Darnetta Corbin-Leak was re-elected in 2003 to the office of Worthy Grand Matron with Sister Jessie Vance-Harris as Associate Grand Matron and Brother Gradie Grier continuing as Grand Patron. In 2006 Sister Darnetta Corbin-Leak was again re-elected Worthy Grand Matron and Sister Jessie Vance-Harris as Associate Grand Matron. In 2009 Sister Darnetta Corbin-Leak was again re-elected Worthy Grand Matron and Sister Dorothy Leonard as Associate Grand Matron. In 2010 Sister Dorothy Leonard went to glory and Sister Jean Olds was appointed Interim Associate Grand Matron. In 2011 Brother James Pinckney was appointed to the position of Grand Patron.
Greater Rising Star continues a history of providing charitable donations to national organization such as United Negro College Fund, Heart Foundation, Cancer Fund, Sickle Cell Foundation, AIDs research to name a few. At the state level, the Grand Chapter provided blankets, socks, hats, gloves, scarves to the homeless, baskets to the needy, toys for children, visitations, cellular phone donations to aid women of domestic violence and donations to such organization as YMCA, Todd Phillips Home for Boys, Lule Belle Stewart, Inc., Judson Center, March of Dimes and The Boys and Girls Club of Michigan, Gleaners Food Bank and recently adopted a family from Greater New Mt. Moriah MBC. Greater Rising Star continues to grow and build in order to leave a mark, by demonstrating love and charity, on this world that cannot be erased.