Meet the Founders & Board
In 2023, mother-daughter duo Tinnie Dell Pettway and Claudia Pettway Charley co-founded Sew Gee’s Bend Heritage Builders to expand economic opportunity, strengthen local leadership, and preserve the community’s quilting legacy.
The Sew Gee's Bend Heritage Builders Board comprises individuals from the local community and the surrounding areas of Wilcox County, AL. The Board has deep connections to the community, shaped through experiences such as attending local schools, working on farms together, or actively supporting each other in various community initiatives. Each member brings their firsthand knowledge and understanding of the wider Gee’s Bend community to their roles.
In addition to the Board, we are supported by a dedicated team of local volunteers. Their involvement further strengthens community ties and ensures the success of the organization in serving its mission.
Tinnie Dell Pettway
Born and raised in Gees Bend, AL, in 1936, Tinnie holds an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Alabama State University. For 10 years, she served as the assistant manager of the only co-op general store in Gee’s Bend, before moving to Bridgeport, CT, where she worked as a nurse at the St. Vincent's and Park City hospitals for 15 years. Returning to Gee’s Bend she became the first director of The Boykin Improvement Day Care Center; for 20 years she loved nurturing the youngest generation of the community into independence. During this time, Tinnie, a young civil rights foot soldier, and future congressman John Lewis attended meetings in the area that focused on bringing changes and improvements to the community. When the daycare was forced to close its doors due to system and funding changes in the county and the state, Tinnie returned to the family-run Gee’s Bend general store and became its full-time manager. With her self-published book The Gee’s Bend Experience, a collection of poems and short stories, she has toured libraries and elementary schools.
Tinnie was taught how to quilt by her mother when she was seven years old, and now at the age of 90, she is still quilting every day and praying without ceasing.
Claudia Pettway Charley
Claudia Pettway Charley is a fourth-generation Gee’s Bend quiltmaker and entrepreneur who grew up surrounded by the artistry of her grandmother Malissa Pettway, her mother Tinnie Dell Pettway, and her aunt Minnie Mae Pettway. Today, she carries forward the tradition by continuing to quilt alongside her mother and daughter.
Claudia has served as a partner in the family-owned business That’s Sew Gee’s Bend and as Community Manager for Nest, where she helped oversee collaborations with leading brands such as Target. Alongside Tinnie, she is the co-founder of Sew Gee’s Bend Heritage Builders.
Jo Celeste Pettway
Jo Celeste Pettway, the oldest child and only girl born to the late Joseph and Menda Gamble Pettway, is a retired District Court Judge of Wilcox County, AL. She was appointed to the District Court bench by Governor George C. Wallace in 1984, making her the first Black woman in Alabama to serve as a state court judge.
A 1969 graduate of Alabama Lutheran Academy, she is an alumna of Auburn University with degrees in Political Science, Speech Communication, and History. She furthered her education at the University of Alabama with degrees in Social Work (BSW and MSW) and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Alabama's School of Law in June 1982 and was admitted to law practice in Alabama in September 1982.
Jo Celeste is the proud mother of Adam Clayton Pettway and Joyonna Gamble George, Ph.D. A member of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, she serves as the Sunday School organist and enjoys reading, traveling, and crocheting. She is the former South Eastern Regional Director of Alpha Kappa Alpha's Southern Eastern Region, former President of Zeta Eta Omega and Psi Omicron Omega Chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and a member of the Order of Eastern Star, St. Mary's Chapter. A septuagenarian, she now enjoys living in Alberta, AL.
Andrea Pettway Williams
Andrea Pettway Williams is a third-generation Gee’s Bend quiltmaker who was taught by her mother Lorraine Pettway and other artists in the community.
A graduate of Wilcox Central High School in Camden, AL, Andrea’s work experience has ranged from the hospitality field to computer science; however, most of her time is now spent gardening, working alongside her father to plant and deliver fresh produce throughout the Gee’s Bend community.
Andrea’s quilts are held in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, D.C. and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA. Her work has also been exhibited at Nicelle Beauchene Gallery, New York, NY and the National Quilt Museum, Paducah, KY. Andrea regularly teaches quilting workshops at local schools during the summer.
Stella Mae Pettway
Stella Mae Pettway was born and raised in Boykin, AL. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Concordia College in Selma, AL, and later went on to work at Boykin Daycare. As a dedicated professional in Public Health, she worked as a home attendant and a 'parent educator' for the Wilcox County HIPPY program.
Stella Mae is a third-generation Gee’s Bend quiltmaker and was taught how to quilt by her mother Georgianna Pettway, grandmother Delia Bennett, and aunt Ella Mae Irby. Her quilts have been exhibited nationally and internationally, including at Alison Jacques Gallery, London, UK; Nicelle Beauchene Gallery, New York City, NY; Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI; The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, TX, and Boston, MA; and in Macy's Department Store.
Lyman Bendolph
Lyman was born and raised in Gee's Bend and attended Pine Hill High School. Like many others, he later left Gee’s Bend in search of employment opportunities and has developed a diverse skillset that spans construction, home repair, and working in community centers.
Lyman has extensive hands-on experience through his work with Advance Floor Covering System and J&J Construction, where he contributes to a range of residential and commercial repair projects. His background also includes recreational work with children, where his experience in games and youth engagement makes him a positive influence and mentor for younger community members.
In addition to his construction and youth-focused work, Lyman is skilled in livestock care and regularly assists seasonal farmers, particularly elderly residents, with daily tasks and larger agricultural responsibilities. He is widely known for his reliability, willingness to help, and readiness to take on unexpected projects in support of his community. In his free time, he enjoys playing football and spending time with the local youth community.
Tracy Pettway
Tracy Pettway is a dedicated Gee's Bend resident and graduate of Pine Hill High School. He pursued further education and became a certified welder, acquiring valuable skills to contribute to special community projects.
Tracy is a compassionate individual who enjoys spending time with his family and engaging in leisure activities like hunting and fishing. He is always ready to lend a helping hand in the community, often carpooling elderly residents to their doctor appointments or grocery shopping.
Tracy's considerate nature extends to his volunteer work with the community baseball team and his involvement in extracurricular activities for teenagers. He is known for his innovative thinking and always has ideas to support and improve the community.
Litrice N. Mingo
Litrice Mingo pursued her secondary studies at Nassau Community College in Garden City, Long Island, NY where she received an Applied Science Associate Degree. Her specialist areas of interest were African American History and Culture, Community Affairs, and Communications.
Latrice’s varied career as a cable wire inspector, health care attendant, and shop stewardess put her on a path toward greater opportunities. She is a published author, poet, playwright, community organizer, voting rights advocate, and former director of the Gee’s Bend stage play. She enjoys family time, movies, sports, tutoring, reading, and traveling.
Passion T. Young
Passion T. Young is a millennial and a native of Gee’s Bend. As a current resident, she has found a love for writing and is a self-published author of Lemons to Poundcake, with many more books to follow. Passion obtained her Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management from Athens State University. She currently works in recruiting and talent acquisition. She hopes to use her research, coordination, and writing skills to help develop outreach programs, projects, and initiatives within the community.
James Witherspoon Jr.
James Witherspoon Jr. serves as Treasurer of Sew Gee’s Bend Heritage Builders. A lifelong connection to Gee’s Bend has shaped both his personal and professional journey. Raised in the community, he attended Wilcox Central High School before going on to become a business owner alongside his brother. Together, they operate Them Spoon Boyz, an auto repair business with locations in both Gee’s Bend and Birmingham, AL. Through his work and community involvement, James remains committed to supporting and investing in the place he proudly calls home.
Quincy Williams
Quincy Williams is an entrepreneur and community-minded business owner. He attended Wilcox Central High School and began his career in the construction industry, where he gained more than four years of hands-on experience. He has also worked as a truck driver.
With his life-long ambition of working for himself in mind, Quincy founded his own business, Southern Oak and Pine LLC, which he has successfully operated for over 23 years. Through his company, he has created employment opportunities for members of his community.
Beyond his professional work, Quincy enjoys activities like hunting, fishing, and traveling. He is also committed to mentoring young people in the community, regularly speaking about the entrepreneurship and the merits of self-employment and encouraging the next generation to pursue their dreams.
Dr. Andre P. Saulsberry
Dr. Andre P. Saulsberry is a native of Wilcox County and the superintendent of the Wilcox County School System. He serves on the boards of the Black Belt Community Foundation and Willie Frank Smiley Scholarship Fund and is a former board member of the Wilcox County Public Library.
Dr. Saulsberry is a magna cum laude graduate of Oklahoma's HBCU, Langston University, where he also served as Student Government President and Presidential Scholar. He earned his doctoral degree in Educational Administration Policy Technology Studies from the University of Alabama. He is part of the Beta Kappa Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and is presently active with the Delta Pi Lambda Chapter in Selma. In his free time, he collects black art giclee, canvases, and originals and enjoys traveling, amateur landscaping, fishing, and reading about Harlem Renaissance Era.
Dr. Saulsberry embraces, celebrates, and respects the heritage of the Black Belt Region.