The Heritage Quilters will celebrate the lives, legacies and contributions of notable leaders, trailblazers and changemakers from Warren and Vance counties during the upcoming exhibition, Stitching the People’s History: Exploring the Lives of Past and Present History Makers Through the Lens of Quilts and Quilters.
The three-day exhibition will showcase 12 quilted portraits honoring iconic change leaders whose leadership, activism, education, faith, entrepreneurship and public service have shaped the history of the region and beyond.
The exhibition features quilted portraits of former Congresswoman Eva Clayton, Dollie Burwell, Jane Ball-Groom, Floyd McKissick, Sr., Andrea Harris, Dr. Julian Haywood, Dr. James Green, Ella Baker, Valeria Lee, Sallie Bullock, Rev. Gillis Cheek, and Ernest Turner. These remarkable individuals represent generations of leadership and service whose contributions continue to inspire communities throughout Warren and Vance counties.
Jereann King Johnson, co-founder of the Heritage Quilters, said the exhibition highlights a common thread among the featured history makers.
“The change leaders and history makers featured in Stitching the People’s History represent continuing visions of freedom, and all have, in many ways, freedom-seeking as a core value,” Johnson said. “Freedom is at the heart of their work.”
Organized in 2001, the Heritage Quilters has spent more than two decades preserving history through the art of quilting. The organization is dedicated to documenting and sharing the stories of African American communities, leaders, and cultural traditions through quilts that serve as both artistic works and historical records. Through exhibitions, educational programs, and community engagement, the Heritage Quilters continue to ensure that important local stories are remembered and celebrated for generations to come.
The Heritage Quilters have long embraced quilting as both an artistic expression and a means of preserving stories that might otherwise be forgotten. Through this exhibition, they invite visitors to reflect on the people, places, and events that have shaped the cultural history of Warren and Vance counties, and to explore quilting’s role as a form of storytelling and cultural preservation.
Guests are also invited to attend a special Quilters’ Talk on Friday evening, where members of the Heritage Quilters will discuss their creative process, the inspiration behind the exhibition, and the significance of preserving local history through fiber arts.
Exhibition Schedule
Friday, June 26, 2026
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
(Quilters’ Talk at 5:30 pm)
Saturday, June 27, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 pm
Sunday, June 28, 2026
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Location
Warren County Memorial Library
119 S. Front Street
Warrenton, NC 27589
This project was made possible through the support of the North Carolina Arts Council, Living the Word Justice and Equity Ministry, the Duke Energy Foundation, and Warren County Government, whose commitment to preserving local history, arts, culture, and community storytelling helped bring this exhibition to life.
The exhibition is free and open to the public. Community members, educators, students, artists, historians and quilting enthusiasts are encouraged to attend and experience this
unique celebration of the people whose lives and legacies continue to shape our communities.
For more information, contact the Warren County Memorial Library or the Heritage Quilters website at https://heritagequilters.net/about/
