On a visit to the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Alumnae Club, I had the opportunity to meet Missouri Gamma Millonn Wilson Lilly. Her husband was in the oil and gas business, so they moved around a lot as a family. Millonn chose to become involved in Pi Phi alumnae clubs, so one of the first calls she made when she arrived in a new city was to Pi Beta Phi Central Office, the former name for Headquarters. Becoming involved in the alumnae club allowed Millonn to easily make new friends and become involved in the community. “It was a big help in every city especially when you didn’t know a soul,” says Millonn.
During her time in Chicago, Millonn joined the Windy City Alumnae Club. She would ask her sisters simple questions: “Who is your favorite doctor?” “Where do you get alterations done?” “Who is your dentist?” or “What grocery store do you use?” It was a fantastic way to meet new women and learn about her new city. One thing she encountered at each club, no matter the city, was finding women who shared her love of Pi Phi.
Millonn has a unique family perspective and it is pretty incredible. She can count nine Pi Phis in her family beginning with her grandmother, Oklahoma Beta Mary Klepper Maddox, who was initiated in 1928. She then names her mom Oklahoma Alpha Mary “Bibby” Maddox Wilson and aunt Oklahoma Alpha Sarah Maddox Hogan, both active members of the Oklahoma City Alumnae Club. Other Pi Phis in her family include her sister Oklahoma Alpha Elizabeth Wilson Pledger and her cousin among others. Now Millonn has the pleasure of experiencing Pi Beta Phi through her daughters, Madeline and Mackenzie, both Oklahoma Alphas.
Madeline graduates in May and will move to Houston to work in financial consulting with a major firm. The mother and daughter have already discussed plans of how Madeline will get involved with the local alumnae club. Mackenzie is a freshman and is enjoying her first year of college at the University of Oklahoma. Millonn is excited for her daughters to form sincere friendships like she has formed through the Fraternity, to always uphold the core values of Pi Phi, and remember to hold dear the special rituals of the organization. She feels very blessed that the Pi Phi legacy continues to grow in her family.