Revised 10-01-2026
I found myself surrounded by Cherished Memories of Mama and Papa as my husband and I packed for our move from Alabama to the beach. Almost everything in my home carries a little piece of them—a recipe Mama taught me, a quilt she made, or something I kept simply because it was his or hers. Each item holds a story, a memory I never want to let go of.
Cherished Memories of Mama and Papa
Her name was May, and his was Ben. Mama was like a spring flower. She was so full of energy and warmth. She didn’t work outside the home, but she worked hard to make a home for her family. They went from aunt and uncle to loving parents for me.
My real mother, Lorene Graham, passed away shortly after I was born. May, my father’s sister, and her husband Ben raised me from the age of one. By the time I was thirteen, they officially adopted me. Their children had grown up, except for the youngest, who was finishing high school. They started over just for me—and gave me more love than I could have imagined.
We lived in Baytown, Texas, until Papa retired from Exxon. When I was in the 3rd grade, we moved to Shepherd, Texas, where we settled to a small farm. Mama made most of my clothes, measuring me often—ugh. Money was tight, and she believed in making rather than buying whenever possible.
Handmade Clothes and Quilts from Clothing
Back then, fabric was affordable—sometimes as little as $1 for three yards at the Ben Franklin Five and Dime store. Mama often bought one pattern to use and then would become creative and modified it into many styles. She’d add ruffles or collars or add sleeves and embellish them with lace or ribbons to make them all look different. Sometimes she even made her own patterns.
When I outgrew my clothes, Mama didn’t throw them away. She repurposed the fabric into quilts. “You never waste good material,” she would say. As I packed my quilts for the move, I could just remember the stories behind each piece of fabric and tell you about how old I was when I wore it.
What are utility quilts?
Utility quilts were the everyday workhorses of the household. Made from repurposed clothing, these quilts didn’t follow fancy star or floral patterns. Instead, Mama tore fabric into squares or rectangles and stitched them together by hand until the quilt was large enough. I remember watching her and asking so many questions. She would tear the clothes apart and explain the whole process.
A quilt requires three layers:
- Top – pieced-together fabric squares or rectangles
- Middle layer – cotton batting or an old blanket
- Bottom layer – sturdy fabric, often from worn-out pants or thicker materials
Once the layers were prepared, Mama and Papa would smooth them out, pin them together, and roll them tightly. During winter, Mama would hand-quilt them while watching television, keeping warm under the very quilt she was making. Again, I made her explain the process. She and Papa were so patient with me. I really cherish those memories of them.
Fancy Quilts for Special Occasions
While utility quilts kept us warm at night, Mama sometimes made “fancy” quilts for display. I remember wanting a pretty bedspread with matching curtains for my room. She used a Singer sewing machine to sew this project, cutting and stitching while I was at school. My sister and I learned to sew on that machine, and I kept it till the 80s. Within days, I had the spread and curtains I imagined.
We weren’t wealthy, but we were rich in blessings—love, resourcefulness, and creativity.
Quilts for Generations
She made “fancy” quilts for each of us and for just about every grandchild. Some quilt tops she never had time to finish, and I am now completing them. This means my grandchildren will have quilts made by both their great-grandmother and me—a true generational legacy.
Lessons Beyond Quilting
When I show my grandchildren the fabric, I can tell them which dress, shirt, or pajamas it once was. I’ve also had clothes sewn for them from the same scraps. In that way, the thread of memory continues.
Mama lived to be 91, and even in her later years at the nursing home, she was teaching nurses how to quilt. She always said, “You have to keep your mind and your hands busy so you don’t get lazy or depressed.” She read her Bible every morning with coffee and kept her mind sharp with books, and her hands busy with quilting or crochet.
My Papa lived to be 81. He never slowed down. He was always working in the garden or building something. The day he passed, he was rebuilding their little dog’s pen outside so she could enjoy being outside. He was always so full of life and appreciative of what God had blessed them with. He and Mama had been married 60 years. He held the same thought as my mama: keep busy and don’t quit.
Papa also taught me about caring for animals, to ride and care for a horse, cows, and any living thing. He taught me to hunt, fish, camp, and drive a car and a tractor. I will always remember the wonderful time we had learning everything he shared with me.
Though I lost my biological mother, God blessed me with parents who taught me not only the art of quilting and how to grow a garden and preserve food, but also how to survive, create, and love deeply.
Quilting is more than stitching fabric—it’s stitching together the past, the present, and the future. Every quilt tells a story, and mine tells the story of love, resilience, and family legacy.