10/16/2025
Historic Goldsboro Commemorative Quilt Project
“A reflection of the threads that bind our community together.”
The City of Sanford, through its REEI Advisory Committee, proudly announces the next chapter of the Pathways to Reconciliation Project: the Historic Goldsboro Commemorative Quilt, a collaborative, community-driven artwork that preserves and celebrates the rich stories and legacy of Historic Goldsboro.
Lovingly designed and crafted by cherished elder members of the Goldsboro community, the quilt reflects the neighborhood’s deep cultural roots, resilience, and unity. Through storytelling sessions and design workshops earlier this year, residents shared memories, photographs, and personal experiences that inspired each meaningful panel.
“The Goldsboro Commemorative Quilt is a visual narrative of strength, pride, and community, a lasting reminder of the stories that shaped our city and the threads that continue to bind us together,” said Barbara Coleman Foster, Co-Chair REEI Advisory Committee.
Founded in 1891 by William Clark, Historic Goldsboro was one of the first self-governing Black communities in the United States, a proud, thriving city with its own mayor, businesses, churches, and civic institutions. In 1911, Goldsboro was annexed by the City of Sanford through legislative action that dissolved its municipal charter, stripping the community of its independence and self-determination.
For generations, that annexation left a lasting wound — a sense of loss felt deeply by those who built Goldsboro from the ground up and by their descendants who inherited its proud legacy. The City of Sanford recognizes this history and, through the Pathways to Reconciliation initiative, seeks to honor what was lost, acknowledge past injustices, and move forward together in a spirit of respect, understanding, and unity.
The quilt stands as both remembrance and reconciliation, an artistic expression of healing that stitches together Sanford’s shared story while celebrating the enduring strength and beauty of Goldsboro.
The quilt will be unveiled on Monday, December 8, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., at City Hall, 300 N. Park Avenue, in celebration of a City Commission proclamation, proclaiming December 8 as “Historic Goldsboro Day.” The quilt will take its permanent place outside the City Commission Chambers in the beautifully renovated first-floor lobby of City Hall, serving as a lasting tribute, remembrance, and symbol of reconciliation for generations to come.
This project was made possible through the partnership of the City of Sanford’s REEI Advisory Committee, Sanford Museum, City of Sanford Historic Preservation, UCF RICHES Program, City of Sanford Public Art Commission, and the Peace and Justice Institute.
“The Goldsboro Commemorative Quilt reminds us that every piece of our shared history matters,” said Nicole Osburn, Director, Community Relations and Neighborhood Engagement, City of Sanford. “Together, those pieces create something beautiful, a reflection of Sanford’s ongoing commitment to inclusion, respect, and healing.”
