Portsmouth-Suffolk
SILHOUETTES
The Kappa Silhouettes are the auxiliary organization to Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated—a sisterhood of wives and widows bound together by devotion, dignity, and purpose. We uplift the fraternity through service, strengthen community through compassion, and build enduring bonds of fellowship through service projects and social activities. We are builders of bridges—between chapters, families, communities, and legacies. Our members connect, support one another, and stand beside excellence. Our charter members • The Portsmouth–Suffolk Silhouettes trace their roots to 1973, when Jane Hargraves, Gayle Johnson, Bertha Manning, Maryland Spicely, Celestine Twitty, and Brenda Williams planted the seeds of a movement grounded in service and sisterhood.
More than five decades of service
In 1992, the Kappa chapters of Portsmouth and Suffolk united, strengthening fraternity bonds and expanding the reach of the Silhouettes. The chapter grew through collaboration, unity, and commitment to community uplift. For more than five decades, the Silhouettes have invested heart, time, and leadership in causes such as the Kappa Foundation, which advances social, economic, and educational empowerment for underserved and underrepresented communities locally and globally.​
The Annual Spring Fling
The crown jewel of our service legacy is the beloved Annual Spring Fling, held each May at Manor High School in Portsmouth for special education students, their families, and educators. The celebration brings joy, dignity, and belonging to everyone who attends. Charter Member Maryland Spicely, a special education educator, began this treasured tradition with a simple conviction: every child deserves a night to laugh, dance, sparkle, and be celebrated. For more than 34 years, Spring Fling has filled the school gymnasium and students’ hearts with music, movement, smiles, and unforgettable memories.
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The 2025–2026 planning committee, chaired by Silhouette Spicely, included Carol Bell, Gwendolyn Bruce, Veronica Caldwell, Saundra Copeland, Vonetta Jackson, Sandra Odom, Bridget Royster, Vickie Walton, Sharon Waters, Denise Wiggins, and Brenda Williams. Our devoted Kappa husbands have been beside us—shaking, shimmying, lifting chairs, lifting spirits, and lifting the legacy with pride and laughter.
Service that heals, protects, and empowers
Across the years, the Portsmouth–Suffolk Silhouettes have supported causes that protect life, strengthen families, and restore hope:
• March of Dimes — Silhouette Brenda Williams
• St. Jude Children’s Hospital — All Silhouettes
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) — Silhouette Sandra Odom and the Silhouettes
• Domestic violence awareness and prevention — Silhouettes Bertha Manning and Sandra Odom
• Safe Sleep Initiative — Led by Dr. Saundra Copeland; education to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and protect infants
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Each initiative reflects our belief that service is transformational.