Brenetta Ward, Quilter

JeLisa Marshall is a doctoral candidate in fashion who wants to share personal stories and important messages about sustainability through fabric. With guidance from Master Artist Brenetta Ward, a third-generation quilter with more than 40 years of experience whose quilts tell impactful stories in family homes, classrooms, galleries, and other spaces, JeLisa has been exploring how to tell the story of her father, a U.S. Army veteran.

Brenetta Ward (l) and JeLisa Marshall (r).

In the spring, Brenetta and JeLisa took their storytelling to another level. Over a short series of workshops at Franklin High School, they shared their stories with students, adding to a dialogue about genealogy, family history, and oral history. They taught students to design and sew their own quilting squares which they used to share their own unique stories.