Caster Pettway
Ms. Caster Pettway is a quilter from Gee’s Bend (Boykin), Alabama, where she was born and raised. She is the daughter of Reverend Spurlin Pettway and Ms. Indiana Bendolph Pettway, and one of fourteen children in a large and close-knit family. Her father founded their home church, where she remains an active member today.
Ms. Caster learned to quilt as a child by watching her mother and the women in her community. She often sat beside her mother as she worked, learning by observation and participation. Like many Gee’s Bend quiltmakers, they used old clothing and whatever materials were available, creating quilts that were both practical and deeply rooted in family life. As a young girl, she also worked in the cotton fields alongside her family, an experience that shaped her strength and resilience.
As an adult, Ms. Caster raised her three children, often navigating difficult circumstances with determination and faith. She credits her perseverance and strong sense of purpose to both her upbringing and her belief in God. Over the years, quilting remained a steady presence in her life.
Today, Ms. Caster finds peace and joy in sewing. She draws inspiration from the world around her, often taking walks and observing the colors and patterns in everyday life. Her quilts are made using both old and new materials, reflecting the tradition of resourcefulness that defines Gee’s Bend quilting.
She began by making quilts for family and friends, giving them as gifts, and continues to value that spirit of sharing. She takes pride in knowing that people connect with her work and recognizes that her quilts reflect who she is. Her children and grandchildren have also taken up quilting, continuing the tradition across generations.