Lillie Burke demonstrated in her work as an educator and active sorority member how African-American sororities supported women "to create spheres of influence, authority and power within institutions that traditionally have allowed African Americans and women little formal authority and real power.

"[1] Born c. mid-1880s in Hertford, North Carolina,[2] Burke moved with her family to Washington, DC.

Lillie Burke graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor of Arts in English.

In North Carolina she taught at the State Normal School at Fayetteville to prepare new generations of teachers, which was considered one of the most important careers in the South.

[4] Burke encouraged and taught generations of students through 30 years as an educator in the Washington, DC public school system.