Jodie LaFountain

Jodie is the daughter of Marlene Bennett Jones, and comes from a long line of Gee’s Bend quilters. Her aunt, Loretta Pettway Bennett, and her mother were her greatest influences, while her grandmother, Agatha Bennett, and great-grandmother, Delia Bennett, were also part of the family’s quilting tradition. Jodie laughs that her mother and aunt “threw her under the bus” by giving her one of the most challenging quilting projects to learn as a beginner, the Pine Burr pattern. Made from small squares arranged in concentric layers, the design resembles a pine cone and is recognized as a symbol of Alabama. Today, it remains one of her favorite quilting styles.

Although she enjoys the challenge of complex patterns, Jodie loves creating smaller wall-hanging quilts inspired by the Gee’s Bend tradition. For her, quilting is both relaxing and rewarding. It requires focus, allowing her to set aside everyday concerns and become fully immersed in the work.

She is proud to carry on the legacy of her family, and enjoys teaching others about quilting and the traditions of Gee’s Bend.

Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Jodie moved back to Gee’s Bend at age five and considers it the place where she grew up. She believes the legacy of Gee’s Bend is rooted in the quilts themselves and the generations of women who made them out of necessity to keep their families warm. While each quilter develops her own style, Jodie says there is a distinctive Gee’s Bend aesthetic in the designs, stitching, and construction. She believes she could recognize a Gee’s Bend quilt anywhere because of the unique artistic elements that connect them all through the generations. 

 

Click Here for available works by Jodie.