Martha Jane Pettway: Gee's Bend Matriarch & Quilt Legacy Postcard

My great-grandmother, Martha Jane Pettway (1898–2003), was a woman whose life and legacy are woven into the very fabric of Gee’s Bend, Alabama.

Long before the quilts of Gee’s Bend gained international recognition, Grandma was raising a family, building a home, and creating beautiful quilts from the materials available to her.

She and her husband, Little Pettway, my Papa raised thirteen children together, along with many of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Their home became a place where generations were nurtured, family traditions were preserved, and the strength of a Black Southern matriarch helped shape the lives of those who came after her.

This keepsake celebrates that part of Grandma's story—the woman, the home, and the generations of family and artistry she helped build.

History Behind the Piece

One of the remarkable chapters in Grandma's life was her family's connection to the Roosevelt housing program established during the New Deal.

Grandma and Papa were the first family in Gee’s Bend to receive a Roosevelt house. Their cabin still bears the number 1, a lasting reminder of an important chapter in our family's history and the transformation of the Gee’s Bend community.

But Grandma's legacy wasn't built through a house alone. It was built through the family she raised, the lessons she passed down, and the quilts she created.

Like generations of Gee’s Bend women, Grandma transformed worn work clothes and fabric scraps into quilts that were both practical necessities and expressions of extraordinary creativity.

Featured on this postcard is her Strips & Strings (1960) quilt, an example of the bold designs and resourceful artistry that helped bring the quilters of Gee’s Bend worldwide recognition.

Grandma's quilting legacy didn't end with her daughters and granddaughters. Today, at least five generations of her descendants are carrying her quilting traditions forward in communities around the world. Each generation brings its own creativity to the tradition while maintaining a connection to the artistry and heritage passed down through our family.

Her legacy isn't simply preserved in museums or remembered through the quilts she created. It is alive in the hands of her descendants who are still quilting today.

About This Keepsake

Originally created for the 4th Annual Airing of the Quilts Festival, this commemorative postcard honors Martha Jane Pettway's life as a Gee’s Bend matriarch and quilter.

One side features Grandma's 1960 Strips & Strings quilt, while the other shares her biography, including the story of her family, the Roosevelt house, and the quilting traditions she passed down.

This keepsake offers a glimpse into the everyday lives behind the extraordinary quilts of Gee’s Bend.

Whether mailed to someone special, added to a collection, framed for display, or given as a gift, it helps share a story of family, resilience, creativity, and a quilting heritage that continues to thrive.

Product Details

• Product: Individual commemorative heritage postcard
• Featured Quilter: Martha Jane Pettway (1898–2003)
• Featured Quilt: Strips & Strings (1960)
• Historical Focus: Gee’s Bend family life, Roosevelt housing history, and multigenerational quilting traditions
• Featured Content: Quilt artwork and biographical tribute
• Collection: Gee’s Bend Quilters Legacy Collection
• Originally Created For: 4th Annual Airing of the Quilts Festival
• Format: Functional, mailable postcard
• Quantity: One individual postcard
• Price: $5.00

From My Family to Yours

For more than 30 years, I've dedicated myself to researching and preserving my family's history, including the stories of the Pettway, Bendolph, Miller, and Young families of Gee’s Bend.

As Grandma's great-granddaughter, these stories mean more to me than dates in a history book or names attached to museum exhibits.

When I think about the Roosevelt house, I think about the generations of family who called it home. When I look at Grandma's quilts, I see more than fabric and stitches. I see the resourcefulness, creativity, and traditions that were part of our family's everyday life.

What makes this legacy especially meaningful is knowing that Grandma's quilting traditions are still being practiced by her descendants around the world. Our family's artistry isn't confined to the past. It continues to grow, evolve, and connect generations.

Through Sweet Martha’s Family Farmacy, I'm proud to share these stories in our own voices, honoring the women who came before us and celebrating the family members who continue their work today.

Heritage Note

The quilting traditions of Gee’s Bend are not confined to the past or to the geographical boundaries of Alabama.

Martha Jane Pettway's descendants are living and creating around the world, carrying her quilting traditions forward through at least five generations. Their work reflects an artistic heritage that continues to grow while remaining deeply connected to its family roots.

This postcard honors Grandma, the home she helped build, the generations she raised, and the remarkable quilting legacy that continues through her descendants today.

Our family. Our stories. Our voices. Our living legacy.