UA student is fifth generation Gee's Bend quilter

A University of Alabama (UA) student was spotlighted by Alabama News Center as a fifth generation Gee's Bend quilter. 

In this story by Alabama News Center, UA student Francesca Charley said that she was inspired by her mother and grandmother to take up quilting as part of the historic community in Boykin. 

“My family is the reason why I am who I am today," she said. "I wouldn’t have any of this without my mother and my grandmother getting me into it. It is something so beautiful for me. I’m going to always include it in my life."

Charley is a student of anthropology at UA but has aspirations to be a forensic osteologist. Her family has been quilting since her great-great grandmother more than a century ago. 

She said that the hobby has taught her about patience. 

"As a child, I didn’t do good with being patient," she said. "I definitely grew a sense of patience when it comes to sewing and making these because it takes so much patience with whatever it is that you’re working on, and yourself especially."

"Patience is such a huge virtue when it comes to all of this work. It definitely helps me with my schoolwork and helps me with people, as well, to not get as angry as fast. It’s an overall huge life enhancer for me."

Read the full story here.