More than 90 year old Friendship Quilt finds its way back home

Using a walker for just a bit of extra security, Kathryn Mooney Wall, 93, gingerly made her way across the room to a wall inside the Golden Valley Community Club. Only minutes before her treasured Friendship Quilt was hung on the wall, as it had finally found its forever home.

"It's a dream come true," said Mrs. Kathryn. "I have worked on finding a home for this quilt for the past 20 years...here where it was made to honor the people whose names are on the quilt," she said.

The Friendship Quilt was made in 1931 by members of the Mooney family, friends and neighbors.

It was given to Mrs. Kathryn by her aunt Jettie Mooney, who helped make the quilt at least 90 years ago.

For the past three decades the quilt has been at Mrs. Kathryn's home in Shelby, but she wanted it returned to its golden roots. Other relatives quilting in 1931 were her step-grandmother, Mary Hardin Mooney and another aunt, Lillie Mae Mooney Walker.

The quilt is now placed in a 86"x86" shadow box designed by Janet Berry and Ted Dedmon and built by Cleveland Lumber Company. Berry was on hand recently as the large shadow box was gently placed on a primary wall at the center. Berry works with FMG Frame Masters Gallery and was contacted by Mrs. Kathryn to help her with the project. The framing is similar to that of some pieces of art at the Biltmore House, Mrs. Kathryn said.

David Brackett, Michael Towery, Arthur Smith, Jeff Hawkins and Jesus Martin arrived at the community club early one morning recently to hang the shadow box.

Before the Golden Valley Community Club members were asked about taking ownership of the Friendship Quilt, Mrs. Kathryn made a visit to Golden Valley Methodist Church but there was not enough room for the quilt. After a trip to Fairview church for a family reunion and discussing placing the quilt there, Mrs. Kathryn believed the best option and the place where it would be seen the most was the Golden Valley Community Club.

"I wanted it to go in the community where it was made and to honor the people whose names are on the quilt," she said.

Each one of the original quilters was given 13 pieces of material from dresses worn back in the day. A quilt block was made from the dress fabric and names were placed in the block.

Kathryn Mooney Wall's name is included on a block and to her knowledge, she is the only living person whose name is a part of The Friendship Quilt.

"My block is made from material from the dresses I wore back then," she said. "Some of the material is repeated in other blocks, too," she said.

There are 25 friendship blocks with eight being Mrs. Kathryn's family members. The other 17 blocks represent friends and neighbors in Golden Valley.

Others honored on the quilt blocks are Estelle Murry, Lillian Hardin, Hazel Cash, Marigold Gettys, Eloise Melton, Delora Hardin, Valoria Toney, Mildred McCurry, Hattie Lee McCurry, Naney Brown, Leatrice Toney, Sue Campbell, Geneva Cash, Tennie Freeman, Lorene Jones, Blanch McCurry, Bertha Hardin, Louise Freeman, Faye Hardin, Janet Robbs, Ruby Murry, Mary Smith, Christine Gettys and Beadie Melton.

Mrs. Kathryn was only a child when the quilting process started.

"I don't have any memory of seeing this being made. I was just a little kid" she said. She turns 94 on August 11.

When she was five years old the family moved from their home in Alexander Mills in Forest City to Earl in Cleveland County.

"I never lived in Golden Valley, but my family did," she said. She has five grandfathers buried in the cemetery at First Broad Baptist Church.

Mrs. Kathryn's grandparents lived on Golden Valley Sunshine Road near Duncan's Creek Road and she remembers visiting them often during the summers. She said they attended church services, memorials, weddings and funerals at the First Broad Baptist Church.

She also recalled fun times of corn shucking, peanut pickings, wheat thrashings and other community gatherings at her grandparents' homes, "that I have remembered all of my adult life," she said.

Although never her home, Golden Valley was home to her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

"To me Golden Valley is hallowed ground and will always be a special place in my life," she said. "Many names on this quilt are familiar to me as neighbors and family. I wanted to see this quilt preserved and kept by someone who can keep it close to the people who are remembered on it and preserved for as long as possible."

Recently while standing in the community club and with a wide golden smile, Mrs. Kathryn said, "a dream come true."

An official Friendship Quilt dedication will be held at the Golden Valley Community Club on August 21 at 7 p.m. at the regular pot luck supper.

Mrs. Kathryn will be the special guest, said community club member Donna Petter.