quilt

Quilt square contest winners.

Wilson Daily Times, 29 March 1934.

  • George Coy Cooper — George Coy Cooper (1917-1977) was the son of Roy and Pearl Cooper (and nephew of James Cooper.)
  • John Robinson — John William Robinson (1922-1964) was the son of Lumas A. and Ella Renfrow Robinson.)
  • New Vester School, Holden’s School, Yelverton School, Lucama School, Rocky Branch School — All were Rosenwald schools in Wilson County.
  • Marie Barnes
  • Willie A. Berrett
  • Alma Collins — Alma Collins (1920-??) was the daughter of Lee and Della Collins.
  • Annie O. Hinnant
  • Roger Deans — probably, Joseph Rogers Deans (1918-1979).
  • Dollie Lee Norville
  • Mongora Lucas — Monzora Lucas Williams (1923-1988).
  • Howard School — This school, presumably, was located in Old Fields township.

[Sidenote: the ages of some students relative to their grade levels illustrate the challenges to regular school attendance faced by rural students.]

Martha’s Choice.

The North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, North Carolina possesses two quilts made by women who were once enslaved. Mary Barnes of Wilson created “Martha’s Choice” between 1875 and her death in 1902.

marybarnesquilt1978-24-1

Mary Barnes, “Martha’s Choice”

Photo courtesy of the blog maintained by North Carolina Connecting to Collections, an outreach program of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. Please read their article on the myth of “slave codes” on quilts.