Antonia Abner

Golden Honoree Antonia (Toni) Sisson Abner was born in Dallas, Texas, and Maurice and Cleo Sisson. During Ms. Abner’s early years, the family moved to Mound Bayou, MS. They returned to Dallas where Ms. Abner remained throughout her childhood into her adult years. She graduated from Booker T. Washington Technical High School in Dallas ISD in 1964 with high academic honors. Ms. Abner attended Texas Southern University (TSU) and received a bachelor’s in Political Science and History in 1968. She also earned a master’s in Secondary Education (M Ed.) from the University of Montevallo, Montevallo, AL, and a Post Graduate degree in School Administration.

While attending TSU, Ms. Abner was initiated into the Gamma Psi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, continuing the legacy set by her maternal aunts, Soror Irma T. Clarke and Soror Louise Clarke, who both held international offices and participated in the Mississippi Health Project. In addition to serving as Gamma Psi’s secretary, Ms. Abner served on the Rush, Ivy Presentation, and Nominating committees. Ms. Abner is a Life Member of the sorority and the most senior of the current 12+ Alpha Kappa Alpha women in her immediate family.

The Abners lived in several states around the U.S. and Ms. Abner became an active member of the local chapter of the sorority in the cities where they resided. She has served in Alpha Kappa Omega (Houston, TX), Epsilon Upsilon Omega (Trenton, NJ), Upsilon Eta Omega (Birmingham, AL), Lambda Kappa Omega (Fairfax, VA), Alpha Xi Omega (Dallas, TX) and currently Omicron Mu Omega (Dallas, TX). During 2021, Ms. Abner participated in OMO’s Legacy of Service Day project by preparing Client Kits for the Zan Wesley Holmes Community Outreach Center. In 2022, Ms. Abner volunteered at the CitySquare Food Pantry as a pantry stocker. As a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Ms. Abner has attended and contributed to multiple Boules, Regional Conferences, Cluster Meetings, and various chapter-sponsored workshops.

As a professional, Ms. Abner taught in secondary schools in the states of New Jersey, Alabama, and Virginia for over 20 years. During the mid-1990s, she changed her career path and became employed as a Senior Technical Writer and Software Trainer for several technical companies. Ms. Abner relocated back “home” in May 2016 after retiring from CACI, Inc. where she was employed for over 17 years.

While attending TSU, Ms. Abner met and married, Honey-Do, David Julian Abner (a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated). The Abners have two children, David Maurice and Tiffany Antonia, and three grandchildren, Trey Michael, Chimene Annelise, and Sophia Aaralyn Abner. Ms. Abner is enjoying her retirement and developing recipes she includes in new cookbooks. Her other hobbies include reading mysteries and non-fiction historical novels. Ms. Abner is a member of St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Mansfield, TX where she participates in the Christmas Giving Tree, Fall Festival, and Food Bank Projects.