Back in February, I saw the press release about the new Harriett Powers’ stamps and immediately thought about writing a post about her (who knew it would turn into a WEEK of posts). I read that she was buried in Athens and wrote a post-it note to find her grave.
I tried Google to find the “Gospel Pilgram Cemetery”….
….and although there was a general area marked on the map, there was no true address. So, I put this idea on the back burner.
BUT, at the ceremony, I spent a lot of time speaking with Fred Smith and his wife Lee…..
Fred is a local historian, specializing in African American culture in our area. As we talked before the program, he mentioned that he was involved in organizing a new headstone for Harriet. When I expressed an interest, he immediately offered to take us after the program.
It was good to have guide…. I would NEVER have found it by myself.
As we walked along the lovely wooded paths, Fred would go into “tour guide” mode and tell delightful stories about some of the people buried there.
We arrived at her gravesite…..
I love that her epithet was “Wife, Mother, Quilter” !
The back of the tombstone was impressive….
I was interested in the picture of one of her blocks that was etched in the marble….
I don’t know how they made it look like fabric wrinkles, but it was impressive.
There was also a nice bench dedicated to Harriet…..
One interesting comment here….. as I finished this post, I noticed that her grave marker spelled her name with two “t’s”! I researched it a bit and found that most people use one “t”, but census records were often inconsistent for formerly enslaved persons, so either way works!
I had never heard of the “Women of Color Quilters Network”, but have found that they are an organization dedicated to creating guilds and quilting opportunities for African American women.
It was a quiet and reflective moment — standing in the place where a woman who left such an important mark on quilting history was finally laid to rest.
Harriet Powers lived through slavery, emancipation, hardship, and poverty, yet she continued creating quilts filled with faith, storytelling, and beauty.
Thanks for joining me this week as we explored the life of Harriet Powers!!
……………………………………………………………………………………….
Do you have a stack of scraps that you want to use in a fun design?
Check out this pattern for a quick and easy scrap quilt that will help empty your bins and bring a smile to your face!!
Full Color pattern includes step by step instructions for blocks and border.