DescriptionIn the 1980’s my mother Edwinia Marie Middleton (nee Carey), aunt Virginia Davis (nee Carey), and grandmother aka “Nana”, Isabelle J. Grunderway (nee Marsh) travelled to Arkansas. Nana was born in Burtsell, Arkansas in 1910 to James and Louella Marsh (nee Wiley). This was my mother and Aunt’s first ever trip to Arkansas, and I recall how excited they were to be making the trip. They were going to visit my grandmother’s maternal aunt Mittie Bunn (Wiley). Aunt Mittie (1891 – 1995) gave my grandmother two quilt, one of which is this Sunbonnet Sam. When Nana was “modernizing” her house somewhere in the late 1980’s she gave me this quilt, an ancient cast iron skillet, blue and white ceramic butter churn, and an old cedar chest. Nana died on Thanksgiving day, November 30, 2000 in Cambridge, MA. At the time of Nana’s death, the quilt was in possession of my mother Edwinia Marie Middleton (nee Carey). My mother died July 21, 2004 and the quilt remained with her possessions ,held by my sister Tarsha-Nicole Taylor, until 2015 when the quilt was returned to me. This quilt is one of my most treasured possessions. The cotton bolls batting reminds me of the many stories Nana used to tell about picking cotton while growing up in Arkansas. I am not sure when the quilt was made, but it has weathered many years of use and may be a bit worn in places, but overall it’s fibers remain strong – a testimony to the strength of my family.