1960 Born in Gee’s Bend, AL; lives and works in Huntsville, AL

Loretta Pettway Bennett is a fifth-generation quilter from Gee’s Bend, Alabama, and one of the youngest to continue handstitching quilts in the renowned Gee’s Bend style. Her ancestry traces back to Dinah Miller, her great-great-great grandmother, who, according to folklore and family history, was one of the first slaves to have arrived in the Bend.

Born in 1960, Loretta is the second of eight children and the oldest daughter of Tom O. and Qunnie Elizabeth Pettway, one of the original Gee’s Bend quilters whose fame has spread worldwide through exhibitions of their work. The Gee’s Bend quilters have been profiled in numerous publications, newspaper articles, television programs, radio interviews, personal appearances, ten US postage stamps and a play. Loretta has over two dozen additional relatives among that initial group of quilters, establishing her as a bona fide member of what could be considered America’s quilting royalty.

 In 1979, Loretta married Lovett Bennett who was shortly thereafter stationed to Germany, while on his first tour of duty in the United States Army. This was the first of numerous places they would be posted during the following twenty years or so, giving them the opportunity to experience the customs and traditions of various cultures. The couple has three sons, but no daughters to inherit Loretta’s legacy of quiltmaking, though the youngest son has expressed some interest in quilting.

At the 2002 exhibition of “The Quilts of Gee’s Bend,” Loretta’s eyes were opened to the important historical accomplishments of her many relatives. She began to ask herself whether she could one day make a quilt that might hang on a wall in a museum. Loretta says, “At first, I would sketch my quilts and color the drawings with similar colors as the clothes or fabric from thrift stores. Sometimes the clothing itself would help me because I could feel something from the person who had worn that pair of pants, or skirt, dress or shirt.” In order to conform to a defining characteristic of most Gee’s Bend quilts, that they are made from recycled clothing though Loretta shops thrift stores when she runs short of family garments to use in her quilts.

“Traveling widely overseas and within the United States really had a big influence on my style, because in each place the people felt differently about their heritage. For instance, in the Southwestern U.S., houses and cars were often very bright, bold colors. Overseas, brilliant colors were apparent in flowers and festival clothing. By combining my travel experiences with my own legacy, I found my individual place in quiltmaking expressing a contemporary vision that still honors the quilters from Gee’s Bend.”

Loretta came full circle, back to her Gee’s Bend roots, when she made a quilt in honor of her mother Qunnie and her cousin Arlonzia Pettway, her elders who taught her to sew and quilt. [] “After that quilt, I was inspired to use really bold colors and different types of materials together just like the generations of relatives before me who used what they had. I added elements of music and dancing that my family especially love. I was finally there, using different shapes, sizes, colors and textures. Just like my family. Imperfect, but still a family.”

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