Jessie T. Pettway, a cherished member of the famed Gee’s Bend group of quilters, died at 94. Born in 1929 in Primrose, Alabama, Jessie was a woman of many names. Known as J.T. at birth, most called her by her nickname, “Bootnie.” She always called herself “Jessie,” after her favorite schoolteacher. This writer simply called her Grandma Bootnie.
She was a dedicated artist, including her work in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
In 2006, her quilt “Bars and String-Pieced Columns” was commemorated on a United States Postal Service stamp as part of a series honoring the Gee’s Bend quilters. The “Housetop” pattern image was featured in the Reading Room article in the February 2003 issue of Oprah magazine.
Jessie was raised in rural Alabama by her mother’s sister, Seebell Kennedy (“Little Sis”), and her husband, Alp Kennedy, after her mother’s early passing. Her days were filled with farm chores and school. Despite the hard work, she found time to learn to piece and sew quilts, completing her first quilt, an “Eight Pointed Star” pattern, at 12.
Jessie married Monroe Pettway, and together, they raised seven girls and two boys. She was a pillar of her community and will be deeply missed. Her legacy lives on in her beautiful quilts and the love she shared with her family and friends. May she rest in peace.
