NC Chapter Phillis Wheatley Stamp Unveiling Ceremony

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​​​North Carolina’s Phillis Wheatley Stamp Unveiling Ceremony

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A Second Day Unveiling Ceremony for the Phillis Wheatley stamp was held March 17, 2026, in the Conference Center of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. The stamp was released by the USPS on January 29th in Boston. The NC ESPER Chapter, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church Senior Advisory Council and the Seniors in Spotlight Stamp Club worked cooperatively to make the unveiling possible. The USPS NC Post Office 28228 created a special postmark for the ceremony.

NC ESPER Chapter members Vivian Roscoe, Beatrice Cox, Wilhemina Bell, Eloise Harris, Mary Love, Eretta Morris, and Kantigi Camara provided displays with stamp albums, stamp posters, First Day Covers, heritage collages, etc. These displays focused on the Black Heritage Series, African American Poets, Women in the Struggle, and International Stamps. Prior to the start of the ceremony the third, fourth, and fifth grade classes from the Friendship Day School viewed the exhibits and received information regarding stamps and the hobby of philately.

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The Unveiling Ceremony was outstanding! Ms. Erica Bryant of WSOC-TV Charlotte served as Mistress of Ceremony. Walter Martin, Jr., a fourth-grade scholar at Friendship Day School gave a presentation on African Americans on stamps. Ms. Vivian Roscoe, President of Seniors in the Spotlight Stamp Club presented Phillis Wheatley’s Bio/Video. Ms. Mary Love, Co-Director NC Chapter ESPER read the City of Charlotte’s Proclamation. Ms. Melissa Rivers, Guest Poet,  read three of Phillis Wheatley’s Poems. The DeiVision of Music and Arts of Friendship provided musical selections to enhance the program. Ms. Terri Coleman, Customer Service Supervisor and Ms. Vivian Roscoe unveiled the Phillis Wheatley stamp. Two poets, Mr. Edward Bell, and Dr. Robert Cox each shared a poem they had written.

 

Another feature of the event was the sharing from the quilting ministry at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. Ms. Deloris Chisley, president of Friendship’s Quilting Ministry provided a quilt specially designed for the Phillis Wheatley Unveiling.

ESPER President Howard Ingram gave remarks and saluted the members of NC and SC ESPER Chapters for their participation. The USPS provided opportunities for participants to purchase the Phillis Wheatley, Muhammad Ali and other 2026 issued stamps. They also postmarked programs, envelopes, and other items with the Phillis Wheatley Forever postage stamp applied. This USPS postmark commemorated Wheatley at this unveiling ceremony.

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Following the Unveiling Ceremony, the NC ESPER Chapter had lunch and a chapter meeting at the House of Prayer Cafeteria with Co-Director Mary Love serving as chair. Special guests at the meeting were ESPER president Howard Ingram, his wife - Rhonda Ingram and O’Neal Tyler – South Carolina ESPER Chapter Director and his wife Cassandra Tyler. Twenty-four persons attended the meeting, introduced themselves and shared what they collected. ESPER member Eretta Morris shared a PowerPoint presentation entitled “Remembering Ethel Payne.” The Ethel Payne stamp was issued on September 14, 2022, by the USPS as part of the “Women in Journalism” series. The presentation provided details of Ethel Payne’s life and showed how she became a force in Journalism, plus her years as a Black Female reporter in the White House. Payne’s life and contributions connected to the celebration of Women’s History Month and the contributions of African American Literary Artists. Participants provided updates regarding upcoming stamp events. The next big event will be the CHARPEX Stamp Show at Central Piedmont Community College July 25-26, 2026. Co-Director Rosemary Gladden gave Postal News Updates. ESPER President Ingram congratulated all participants for a magnificent event and the commitment to advance stamp collecting in North Carolina.