Inspiring Women - Beatrice Dobbins

Mary D. Williams was inspired by her Grandmother, Beatrice Dobbins, to become a gospel singer.  She remembered holding her Grandmother’s hand when going to town, walking by the Welcome to KKK Country sign that was up until 1972.  Beatrice would hum gospel songs so Mary would feel safe.

Made 2/25/15                      Recalling 70s

INSPIRING WOMEN AUNT MAE

Memory Cloth – AUNT MAE

When I was 8 or 10  - I got to visit my Aunt Mae in Racine.  We would bake cookies and she taught me to sew with her treadle sewing machine.  They didn’t have children so one bedroom was her sewing room.  I thought that was such a luxury.  I could use her scraps to make doll clothes.   It was so fun to figure out how to make them.  There weren’t any patterns and she let me work on my own.  She taught me to hand sew and embroider flowers on my doll dresses.

Embroidery has become a time of reflection and meditation for me.  My memories are transformed while stitching.  I discovered this way of working from "Amazwi Abesifazane: Voices of Women," the South African project dealing with apartheid experiences.  They’ve asked me to spread the process in America and that’s what I’m doing.

Made 2015                           Recalling Summers 1958