ESTHER GRAHAM ROSEBORO

In Memorium

MEMBER, AFRICAN AMERICAN QUILT CIRCLE OF DURHAM

As have many quilters, Esther Graham Roseboro began her journey with needle and thread at the feet of her mother, Mozelle Mitchell Graham (1909-1989), and her Sister-in-LOVE, Theola “Toppie” Robinson (1932-2016). Growing up, Esther watched Mozelle and Toppie craft wonders and make “something” out of what some would call “nothing.” Mozelle would rescue scrap fabrics from the textile mills in which she worked. Esther still had some of those fabrics to work with.

Despite knowing how to sew from an early age, Esther did not have a passion for quilting. She saw it as one of those things that “maybe she’d do one day.” After her first quilting class from her Quilting Sister Annette Bailey, she was inspired to stop waiting for “one day” and explore what today’s quilting looked like in contrast to the traditional forms she knew. With a strong God-Breeze, she happened upon another quilting class at Hancock Fabrics led by Quilting Sister Edna Alston. She was constantly exploring different designs, colors schemes, and fabrics.

It is with love and honor that Esther carried forth the quilting tradition with her two young granddaughters, Danayla (11) and Dyani (7), who both enjoyed quilting with their grandmother. Together they made mini-quilts and bedding items for the girls’ dolls, as well as lap quilts as gifts for beloved teachers. In 2016, Esther encouraged her daughter, Diedra Roseboro, and her granddaughters to work together to make an art quilt. How wonderful it is to know that her love of needles and thread, passed through from her matriarchs, continues ahead through generations.