Jereann King Johnson is a quilter in Warren County who is a textile and cultural heritage specialist

We want to introduce you to Quilter Jereann King Johnson. Warren County textile and cultural heritage specialist Jereann King Johnson was among 15 North Carolinians honored on Feb. 15, 2018 by Gov. Roy Cooper with the Old North State Award for their efforts to preserve African-American heritage and culture.

Jereann King Johnson, shares her knowledge of quilts and quitting and their importance to African American women and culture. She is a member of the Heritage Quilters.
The Historic Hendrick Building, the home of the Heritage Quilters, in Warren County, NC

Johnson’s lifelong interest in quilting began when she was a child, and her mother sewed quilts to keep the family warm. Johnson’s mother introduced her to quilting by teaching her how to piece together blocks of fabric, which her mother would form into patterns to make a quilt top. After setting up a quilting frame, Johnson’s mother would begin the quilting process, sometimes with the assistance of other women.

Johnson rediscovered her passion for quilting in the late 1970s, when she was browsing through the craft section of a pattern book. She became interested in the Carolina Lily quilt, bought a pattern and crafted blocks from leftover African prints from clothes she had made.

Decades later, Johnson’s passion for history and quilting continued to flourish. In collaboration with several North Carolina Quilters, she helped to launch the African-American Quilt Circle in Durham in 1999, and the Heritage Quilters in Warrenton in 2001. Both groups focus on the preservation and continuation of the quilting heritage and arts. The Heritage Quilters model community-mindedness through work with schools, by leading community tours, and by maintaining a giving circle that provides funds for youth field trips and scholarships.

To Johnson, the Old North State Award represents not an individual honor, but a recognition of the local community’s effort to keep traditions alive.

“The award is not just about me,” she said. “It is about this community and the rich cultural heritage of the community.”

-----------
What's the story in a quilt? That's what one of P1t's #NCState researchers decided to find out. Ladan visited Warrenton, North Carolina and met up with empowered, intellectual women in the Warren County Memorial Library who shared their amazing quilt heritage with her. Jereann King Johnson, who is featured in this picture series, has signed up to be a P1t #microentrepreneur and shares the story behind each quilt and its ties to African American women and culture.

More pictures from Ladan’s visit: http://buff.ly/20ZsMAm
Library quilt event page: http://buff.ly/1MNEhAd

*A special thanks goes to Jereann King Johnson, Deborah and Victoria Ferruccio, and all the warm-hearted and hospitable people in Warrenton City who welcomed People-First Tourism.

You can view many other quilts that are exhibited as Jereann gives detailed information about each one Here:https://www.flickr.com/.../721576610.../with/22961982306/...