Dorothy "Dottie" Odell


Born: 1895 to 1905
Died: February 19, 1991 in Wichita KS

​Dorothy "Dottie" Odell Terrell didn't just quietly live out her days—she was a trailblazer who left a profound, lasting legacy in her community. 

​Because Dorothy was a highly educated leader during an era when the career paths of women—particularly Black women in the Midwest—were rarely tracked by government records, her family structure tells a story of community dedication.

​In the 1930s, Dorothy stood out as a highly educated, prominent college graduate within Wichita’s Black community. While her husband, Marsene Terrell, worked a steady industrial and labor job that provided stable footing for their household, Dorothy utilized their home on North Water Street as a cultural and intellectual salon for college-educated civic leaders.

​Her leadership was essential on March 9, 1935, when she hosted a meeting in her home. That afternoon, Dorothy and a small group of visionary women officially chartered the Alpha Phi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (known today as the Wichita Alumnae Chapter)—a public service organization dedicated to empowering the local community. Dorothy was one of the original authors who sat down to write the chapter's official Constitution and By-Laws, shaping its mission from the ground up.

The records indicate that Dorothy and Marsene did not have children. Dorothy poured her lifelong energy, intellect, and leadership entirely into public service and the youth of Wichita. She effectively adopted the future of her local community as her legacy.

​Dorothy passed away on February 19, 1991. Because of her long life, she had the rare privilege of watching the service chapter she co-founded grow, flourish, and impact lives for over 50 years.



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