“Laverne Brackens: The Numerous Awards and Recognitions For Her Artistry and Legacy in African-American Quilt Making” Laverne Henry Brackens was born April 12, 1927,in Fairfield, to parents Willie and Gladys Durham Henry.
Her mother and grandmother were skilled and creative quilt makers which would be classified as improvisational with a free-form style, which did not conform to traditional quilting patterns. This style was enhanced by vibrant colored cotton fabrics often just scraps and pieces lending to a variety of shapes and sizes pieced together for a unique-looking quilt.
As a young child Laverne often helped her mother tack these oddshaped pieces together. Her mother had started a black quilting group probably by the early 1930s, which provided friendship and the sharing of materials, quilting ideas with other black women. This was a time when it was a necessity to make warm bedding that quilts provided. It wasn’t a mere hobby but a vital skill along with other needed sewing (clothing) projects.
