I've recently learned that my Grandma Baker's father, Arie T. Avans, earned a certificate in Cotton Classification at the University of Georgia in Athens, July 30, 1927. He's pictured here with bags of cotton at UGA. The shirt and tie attire, and photo opportunity, suggests this is graduation day.
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| Great Grandpa Arie T. Avans is at back, to the left of the door. |
"In Witness Whereof, We have hereunto set our hands this 30th day of July, 1927, at the University, Athens, Georgia." Arie T. Avans and "Mommy Till" Avans' 2nd daughter Eva Bertrice Avans (12/23/1909-11/25/1986), my Grandma Baker, once worked in a cotton mill and taught me to quilt. I only use cotton fabrics, feeling a deep connection to this history, before I knew it. |
| Wad and Jeff Wall, Aunt Betty Baker holding Randy's hand, me and brother Wayne Baker, Mommy Till and Aunt Ruth Avans, Connie Wall, mom Paula Baker and Josie Wall getting ready for a potluck c 1962 |
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| Heading for lunch. I'm in the foreground with Jackie Ramsey and dad Johnny Baker to the right. |
I have no recollection of Great Grandpa Avans but fondly remember his wife Mommy Till. She lived with her daughter Ruth Avans and Gene Chapman in Rossville, GA. Their stone home is up the road from the John Ross House and Duck Pond.
In winter, Grandma had a floor standing quilt frame set up in her bedroom at 1238 Park City Rd., Rossville. Her and Grandpa J.O. Baker's sisters and friends would come to quilt and catch up. I sat on the floor underneath this frame, encircled by knees, listening to them talk about their lives. In later years Grandma showed me how to stitch a cotton quilt together here. She knew the connection of heart to head to hands. For nearly 65 years, I stitch as artistic expression, love and therapy.
I took this photo of St. Clare in Assisi, Italy and then printed on cotton fabric. The iron mount at the bottom I turned into a heart and added stitches for texture. This stitching is meditative and feels like a prayer. These prayers bring Grandma and my whole family to mind as the world melts away. One stitch at a time.
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| St. Clare of Assisi, stitched to fill an existing frame. |
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| Bluebird Tree of Life, donated to Trees Atlanta for Rootball, May 2026. The dark green fabric, above the bird, was purchased in Salzburg, Austria. Three vintage yo-yos older than Grandma. |
