Phyllis Biffle Elmore, a veteran and a counselor for individuals with addiction, incarcerated youth and domestic violence survivors, shared stories from her book, “Quilt of Souls,” at the Warren County Public Library Bob Kirby Branch on Thursday.
The book is a collection of stories Elmore’s grandmother, Lula Horn, told her as a child after she moved to Alabama to live with her grandparents. The book is based on a real quilt Horn had made, which was on display at the event.
Elmore told the audience Horn would take the clothes of people who had passed away and transform them into quilts, and as Horn worked she would recount to Elmore stories of the clothing’s former owners.
Elmore read an excerpt from her book about Miss Cooter, the laundress. Elmore’s grandmother met Miss Cooter while she was living in Mississippi.
Elmore recalls her grandmother saying, “You have maids, and then you have the cooks, but laundresses are the most hardest working women.”
Miss Cooter washed clothes with her four sisters, a job Elmore described as difficult and dangerous.
“She was only a few years younger than grandma, but already she was bent over like a woman twice her age,” Elmore said.
Miss Cooter lived a hard life that ended prematurely, Elmore recounted. In the end, however, Miss Cooter was able to pass on happily, surrounded by her children.
“I fell in love with Miss Cooter because of the way her story ended and all the stuff that she went through,” said Elmore.
Miss Cooter’s story is represented physically on the quilt by orange and yellow fabrics from two of Miss Cooter’s dresses.
Sharon Crawford, a local quilter, said she attended the event because she is interested in the history of quilting.
“Quilts go back hundreds of years,” Crawford said. “But all of them represent something in history.”
Also listening to Elmore’s discussion, Sandra Starks, a retired professor of social work, said she wanted to support an event highlighting black history.
“I think oral history, particularly black history, is so important, particularly in this political climate,” Starks said.
Starks expressed frustration with the current elected officials and said she believes oral history is important to remind people they are more similar than different.
Pam Johnson, a past director of the formerly known WKU School of Journalism and Broadcasting, said she attended the event because she believes in the importance of quilting and learning black history.
“We always say, ‘Learn your history,’” Johnson said. “Well, there’s so much of our history that has not even been told.”
News Reporter Anthony Clauson can be reached at [email protected].
