Founded 1988
" An International Stamp Society, honoring the African Diaspora and African Americans on stamps"
Our 37th Year
Allen Toussaint Stamp Dedication Ceremony
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ALLEN TOUSSAINT SECOND DAY CEREMONY/ 2025 FIRST NC ESPER MEETING
An ALLEN TOUSSAINT Stamp Dedication (2nd Day Ceremony) was held at the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church Conference Center in Charlotte, North Carolina on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 from 10:30 am until noon. The ceremony was co-sponsored by the NC Chapter of ESPER, the Seniors in the Spotlight Stamp Club and the Senior Advisory Council of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church (FMBC) with Dedrick Russell, WBTV Radio Station, serving as Master of Ceremony.
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The United States Postal Service (USPS) honored the nationally acclaimed, New Orleans- born Toussaint as the 48th honoree in the Black Heritage Series, the longest running series in US postal history. Toussaint is an extraordinary pianist, singer, songwriter, producer, arranger and composer. His outstanding musical contributions have enriched the lives of many world –wide, with a career lasting over six decades. Toussaint was noted for helping to shape the unique sound of New Orleans music with such timeless pieces as “Fortune Teller”, “Southern Nights”, and “All These Things”.
According to the USPS, “President Obama recognized Toussaint with the National Medal of Arts in 2013. His previous honors include induction into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2012, the Songwriters Hall of fame in 2011, the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2009, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2022, the New Orleans City Council renamed the Robert E. Lee Boulevard for Toussaint, who lived on the four-mile-long thoroughfare during the last years of his life.”
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Special music honoring Toussaint was provided by the Lovell Bradford Trio, thanks to the Deivision of Music and Arts at FMBC headed by Frank McGinnis. A proclamation from Mayor Viola Lyles was read by Charlotte City Councilwoman-at-Large LaWanna Mayfield. Vivian Roscoe, President of Seniors in the Spotlight Stamp Club did a very interesting and informative Bio/ Video Presentation of Toussaint’s life and achievements. Beautiful and artistic programs giving the order and program details were done by Alma Jones.
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Mr. Justin Henderson gave remarks and unveiled the stamp of Alvin Toussaint. The local post office was present with stamps and other postal memorabilia for sale and were available for stamping items with the date of the second day program.
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A special and extensive stamp exhibit was done by member Eretta Morris who served as Exhibit Coordinator for the event. Members Eloise L. Harris, Beatrice Cox, Vivian Roscoe, Wilhelmina Bell and Eretta Morris displayed their albums and other items; and Deloris Chisley, President FMBC Quilting Ministry, created a unique quilt on Toussaint for the display.
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The program was co-chaired by Eloise L. Harris and Beatrice A. Cox. Eloise and DorIs Brown were responsible for inviting the public (members of the City Council, County Commissioners, local churches, Greek organizations, etc.). We were delighted to have 37 students from the Friendship Day School join us.
NC ESPER MEETING
After the stamp unveiling, Members of NC Chapter of ESPER convened about six blocks away at the United House of Prayer for All People for our first meeting (luncheon was at members expense) of the year, and also the first meeting with our new Co-Directors, Rosemary Gladden and Mary Love (absent). A group photo was taken at the end of the meeting. Submitted by Bea Cox
Dr. Lorraine Dancy , Drummer from Lovell Bradford Trio, Ina Howell ,Cassandra Tyler ,O'Neal Tyler ,Vivian Roscoe ,Wilhelmina Bell, Beatrice Cox, Walter Faison , Carolyn Smith, Rosemary Lawrence Young, Eretta Morris ,Doris Smith ,Dr. Betty Howell Gray ,Eloise L. Harris and Rev. John Harris
Friendship Missionary Baptist Church Conference Center in
Charlotte, North Carolina
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Click on stamp for bio
O'Neal Tyler, SC Chapter Director and Walter Faison
Drummer with the Lovell Bradford Trio
Vivian Roscoe, Carolyn Smith, Alma Jones( Friendship staff)
Beatrice Cox, and Alma Jones
SC Chapter Directors, O'Neal Tyler and Cassandra Tyler
Robert Weeks (FMBC Seniors Advisory Council, Dr. Lorraine Dancy ,Vivian Roscoe ,Dedrick Russell, WBTV Master of Ceremony, Beatrice Cox, LaWanna Mayfield, City Councilwoman -at-Large, Justin Henderson, Charlotte Postmaster ,Rosemary Lawrence Young, Eloise L. Harris and Rev. John Harris
Eretta Morris ESPER member exhibitor with Justin Henderson, Charlotte Postmaster
Stamp Exhibit by Eretta Morris
Photos Courtesy Eretta Morris, Bea Cox and Vivian Roscoe
​Eretta, exhibit consisted of African Americans on Stamps sprinkled in with international stamps of President Obama, hand painted caches by Collins,12 albums starting with Fred Douglas to the present. Her exhibit also included posters of John Lewis stamp, the Underground Railroad, Negro Baseball League Players Centennial poster with players on stamps, that included Negro Leagues legends stars Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson, Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, Roy Campanella, Larry Doby and Rube Foster.Other posters included a twelve 8x10 prints for Women of Delta Sorority on stamps, Miles Davis, Women Suffrage Movement, African American Entertainers, dancer Gregory Hines, Six Triple Eight poster featuring Mary McCleod Bethune, First Lady Elenor Roosevelt on Celebrity the Century stamp, Maya Angelou, African American Women on Stamps and a special one- of-a-kind poster of Allen Toussaint just to name a few. Overall Eretta used over 8 table for her awesome exhibit. Here exhibit was well received.