Stella Mae Pettway

Stella May Pettway was born in 1952 in Gee’s Bend and is a third generation Gee’s Bend Quilter. Her mother, Georgianna Pettway, grandmother Delia Bennett, and aunt Ella Mae Irby, were all quilters. 

Stella made “Star” quilts with her aunt Ella Mae Irby and her cousin, Emma Mae’s daughter, Linda Diane Bennet. Inspired by her mother’s teaching Stella often made quilts in a playhouse style. Quiltmaking was an essential part Stella’s childhood, as she has remarked, “It was just something we had to do…we needed to know how to sew, cook, and do some cleaning.” Stella has taught at the Fiber Collage and is a member of the Makers Guild of Maine. She also loves reading books and watching western films. 

Work by Stella Mae Pettway is in the permanent collection at Van Every/Smith Galleries at Davidson College.

Stella Mae Pettway was featured in the following gallery exhibitions:

My Way: The Gee’s Bend Quiltmakers and Contemporary Abstraction, Parts and Labor, Beacon, NY, 2020

My Way: A Gathering, Nicelle Beauchene Gallery, New York, 2023

My Way: Gee's Bend Today Nicelle Beauchene Gallery, New York, 2025.

 

Click Here to find available work by Stella Mae Pettway

 

Installation view of My Way: Gee's Bend Today, featuring Stella Mae Pettway's work.

 

Stella Mae is featured in the following PBS video: