In 1999 the National African American RV’ers Association (NAARVA) had grown tremendously so that there was a need to divide the organization into regions. The five regions were Northern, Southern, Central, Eastern and Western. Since that time, the Central and Northern regions merged because of few members in the Northern region, leaving four regions, thus the position of Regional Director was created.

The Southern Regional Director is responsible for the nine states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. The Southern Region is the largest of the four regions.

In 1999, NAARVA voted to have regional rallies to serve as a “pep rally” to show members what they could expect at the National Camp Rally. This was the invitation to come to the “big” rally. It was decided that the Regional Rallies would be held in the spring no later than June 1 and the National Camp Rally would be held in July. In the beginning, individual chapters were responsible for hosting the National Rally. Currently, each region is now responsible for hosting the National Rally every four years.

Elbert Smith, of Dallas, Texas was the first Southern Region Director. He served from 1999-2003. Under his leadership, he organized the Southern Region and the first election of officers was held. Elbert coordinated the first region rally in2000 at a state park in Summerdale, Alabama. He also coordinated the 2001 rally in Seffner, FL, near Tampa, Florida, and 2002 in Montgomery, Texas and the fourth one, 2003 in Perry, Georgia. In order to establish a treasury, the region assessed a membership fee of ten dollars a year per family. The funds would be used for operating expenses and as seed money for rallies. The logo was developed showing the outline the 9 southern region states and the first regional T-shirt were created and sold to members.

Azell Johnson of Palmetto, Florida was the second Regional Director. He served from 2004-2006. Under his leadership, we begin drafting region bylaws as a directive from NAARVA. NAARVA felt that all regions should have their individual bylaws, however, they could not conflict with the national bylaws. Whenever Regional bylaws are amended, a copy must go to the National bylaws Chairman and to the Corporate office. Azell appointed Lemuel Horton- Chair, Myrtle Mayfield, and Arthuree Campbell as the Bylaws Committee who drafted the first Regional Bylaws. Azell coordinated the 2005 rally in Gonzales, Louisiana (no SR rally in 2004 as we hosted the National Rally.) and the 2006 rally in Seffner, Florida.

Lemuel Horton of Decatur, Georgia was elected as third Regional Director, serving from 2006-2010. Lemuel introduced the vote cards and under his direction, Regional Bylaws were completed. He also introduced validating members in both the region and national. He introduced the vote cards. Lemuel coordinated the rally in 2007 in Germantown, Tennessee, the 2008 rally in Gadsden, Alabama (no SR rally in 2009) and the 2010 rally in Hampton, Georgia. Lemuel coordinated the National Rally in 2009, hosted by the Southern Region in Rayne, Louisiana.
Myrtle Mayfield of McDonough, Georgia, elected as fourth Regional Director and served from 2010-2013. She resigned her position to run for and was elected as First Vice President of NAARVA. Under her leadership, she re-instated the Quarterly Newsletter, insured that the Southern Region was represented in the Voice and created the use of membership cards for validation of membership at Southern Region Rallies. Myrtle coordinated the following rallies – 2011 in Marksville, Louisiana, 2012 in Shawnee, Oklahoma and the 2013 rally in Sarasota, Florida.(no SR Rally in 2014) Myrtle began coordination of the 2014 National Rally, hosted by the Southern Region. Under her leadership, she was instrumental in getting the following Chapters chartered: Southeast Georgia Coastal Cruisers, Oklahoma Tornados, Northeast Florida Campers, Space Age RV Club, Mississippi Mocking Birds and a name change from The Tennessee 2 Plus to Rhythmic Rollers. The Rhythmic Rollers maintained the Charter number of the Tennessee 2 Plus.
Wendell Simpson the fifth Regional Director, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama filled the unexpired term of Myrtle Mayfield in October, 2013 and was elected in 2014 to serve a two year term, ending in 2016. He implemented the first Scholarship for eligible high school graduates of the Southern Region. Under his direction, a criterion was established for awarding scholarships. Wendell coordinated the 2015 rally in Lake Guntersville, Alabama, (no rally in 2014) and the 2016 rally in Gulf Shores, Alabama. He also completed the coordination of the National Rally, hosted by the Southern Region in 2014 in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
Dr. Monica Ford Davis of Jacksonville, Florida was elected as the sixth Regional Director from 2016-2020. She reinstated the Southern Region Newsletter and insured there were news articles posted in the NAARVA Voice. Monica created the first web site for the Southern Region. She coordinated the 2017 rally in Myrtle Beach, SC. In 2018 the Southern Region did not have a rally as we hosted the National Rally. She coordinated the National Rally held in Sarasota, FL, the 2019 Regional Rally at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, GA. And she planned the 2020 Rally to be held in Memphis, TN. However, because of COVID-19, the 2020 rally was cancelled.
Charles Breedlove of Huntsville, Alabama was elected as the seventh Regional Director to serve 2020-2022. He appointed a webmaster who created a new Southern Region web site. Now members are able to view Bylaws and other pertinent information online. Also, they can order T-shirts and other Southern Region paraphernalia. He began coordinating the 2021 Southern Region Rally which was scheduled for Lincoln, AL. However, due to COVID, that Rally was canceled. We did not have a 2022 Regional Rally as we hosted theNational Rally. He coordinated the National Rally in Shawnee, OK.

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​Revised 6/30/22 MM