Our History
Delicados, Incorporated was organized in June 1948 in Norfolk, Virginia with Geraldine Dodson Randle as Founder. The Founder and Founding members – Barbare Green Bess, Evelyn White Brissette, Vivian Brown West, and Juanita Newsome Whitehurst decided to name the club the “Sophistiocats”. In keeping with the original goals of the organization and the need for expansion, the name “Sophistocats” was changed to “Delicado Social and Civic Club”. In April 1960, the organization was incorporated as the Delicados, Incorporated with the charter members listed below.
The second chapter was chartered in August 1962 in Washington, D.C. Since that time, nine chapters have been installed in the organization – Portsmouth, Raleigh, Annapolis, Chesapeake, Baltimore, Richmond, Virginia Beach, Saint Mary’s County, and Knightsdale.
Our Founder
Geraldine Dodson Randle, fondly called "Ducky" was born to Mr. and Mrs. Amos Dodson, Sr. in Norfolk, Virginia. She attended the Norfolk Public Schools, graduating from Booker t. Washington High School. After attending the Norfolk Division of Virginia State College for two years, she went to Virginia State College in Petersburg, where she graduated with a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education. "Ducky" later attended Hampton Institute, now Hampton University, in Hampton, Virginia, earning a M.A. Degree in Elementary Education. She taught in Ohio and for many years in the Norfolk Public School System where she retired in June 1988. Geraldine held membership in the Education Association of Norfolk, the Virginia Education Association, and was an active member of First Baptist Church, Bute Street.
Our founder, passed away on December 3, 1998. She was an active and faithful member of the Norfolk Chapter. She married Joseph R. Randle and had one daughter, Erica C. Walker Joynes and two granddaughters, Alexis and Brook Joynes.