About

WILMINGTON 1898 MUSEUM

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The museum project is currently in development.

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Leadership Team

Leigh Carter

FOUNDER & BOARD CHAIR

Leigh was born and raised in Wilmington and graduated, a proud Wildcat, from New Hanover High School. Carter pursued an undergraduate degree in Cultural Anthropology from UNC Chapel Hill and subsequently a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. Leigh enjoyed a career in youth and family services and community mental health before launching her private practice in 2021 as a trauma specialist.

In order to further her efforts to support pathways for healing and respond to community needs, Carter founded the Elizabeth L. Carter Foundation in 2024, an organization that initiates and supports projects to this end. Leigh’s enthusiasm for the Wilmington 1898 Museum for Healing, Education, and Democracy, and other projects, is fueled by her faith in the human spirit’s capacity to rise to its highest call and her conviction that there is always a pathway through darkness toward light.

William Buster

LEAD CONSULTANT

Buster is a visionary and strategic thought leader in the areas of comprehensive community design, philanthropy, and leadership development known for his strategic and rigorous approach to improving outcomes for vulnerable communities. With extensive experience in institution building, organization development, and strategic grantmaking, William has led significant projects such as the foundational development of the New Hanover Community Endowment and on the founding boards of the Whitney Plantation and Forward Promise.

His career highlights his ability to forge public-private partnerships and enhance nonprofit capacities, particularly in health, community economic development, affordable housing, workforce development, and youth development. William has also been instrumental in developing strategic plans, building organizational infrastructure, and leading teams towards impactful community engagement and grantmaking processes. His work emphasizes collaboration, racial healing strategies, and the strengthening of community networks to ensure all individuals and families thrive.

Advisory Board

Fawn Rhodes

BOARD MEMBER

Fawn N. Rhodes, MPH, is a passionate Subject Matter Expert on Health Equity with over a decade of experience in Public Health. As the Founder and Executive Director of Rhodes to Wellness, LLC—an educational consulting organization focused on reducing health disparities through impactful public health education, outreach events, program development, and research—Fawn leads initiatives that encourage sustainable resilience in communities. She holds a Master’s in Public Health from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Bachelor’s in Behavior and Social Science from North Carolina Central University. Currently pursuing a PhD in Global Health Equity at Meharry Medical College’s School of Global Health as part of the inaugural cohort, she continues to expand her reach in the field, supported by a merit scholarship and certified in Project Management.

LaToia Brown

BOARD MEMBER

LaToia Brown is an accomplished corporate marketing professional. She has leveraged her strategic insights and leadership to make noteworthy impacts within the non-profit sector in the Cape Fear Region. Her dedication to communal service is evident through her volunteerism on the boards of various local organizations, where she offers guidance and advocacy for growth and educational advancements.

Her commitment to non-profits is driven by a passion for history and a belief in the importance of education. LaToia’s efforts focus on creating opportunities for diverse communities to learn and benefit from the rich tapestry of their collective past.

LaToia skillfully blends her marketing expertise with a deep commitment to community involvement, emphasizing the importance of historical preservation and knowledge as foundations for contemporary education and societal growth and change.

Inez Campbell-Eason

BOARD MEMBER

Inez Campbell-Eason, EdS is a native of Wilmington, NC Inez is the great-great granddaughter of Isham Quick, Board of Director of 3 Black-owned banks — Wilmington Homestead & Loan Association, People’s Perpetual Building & Loan Association, and Metropolitan Trust Company all founded in Wilmington, NC circa 19th century, prior to the Wilmington Massacre on November 10, 1898.

Due to the repercussions of the 1898 Massacre she has founded The Wysteria Group, LLC seeking Angel Investors to support the following platforms: Micro self care grants for caregivers of family members with Dementia/Alzheimers, “Don’t Sell Grandma’s House” to support 1898 descendants preserve heir property, and IMG – “Invest In My Genius” patent and design guidance for novice Black/African American inventors.

Inez is a graduate of HBCU, Elizabeth City State University and was the former Miss Elizabeth City State University. She has an undergraduate BS in Special Education,K-12 w/ a concentration in Speech Pathology, graduate MA in Educational Psychology and a postgraduate EdS in School Psychology. She often coordinates on the continent of Africa tours to Ghana for returning first generationers. Inez has two handsome sons whom she adores — Tyron and Katori. In her spare time she enjoys travel, line dancing and caring for her horses, Mikela Moon and Angel Fire.

THE WILMINGTON MASSACRE &

Coup of 1898

In 1898, Wilmington, North Carolina, was home to a prosperous and diverse community, where African Americans held positions of power, owned businesses, and thrived alongside white citizens. However, racial tensions escalated as a white supremacist group sought to dismantle this progress.

On November 10, 1898, following a highly coordinated coup, white supremacists overthrew the city’s multiracial, democratically elected government. Armed vigilantes attacked Black citizens, burned down the Black-owned newspaper, The Daily Record, and killed an unknown number of Black residents. Thousands of African Americans fled the city in fear, transforming Wilmington from a majority-Black to a majority-white city almost overnight.

This violent insurrection and the subsequent disenfranchisement of Black voters reshaped the political and social landscape of North Carolina. For decades, the event was misrepresented in history as a “race riot” instigated by Black citizens, and its true nature was buried until modern historians and descendants uncovered the truth.

The Wilmington massacre and coup of 1898 stands as the only successful coup d’état in U.S. history and serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of democracy and the enduring struggle for racial justice.