EASLEY — The Easley Downtown Business Association has joined the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail by sponsoring the 167th quilt block to be mounted on Sam Norris’ antiques, coins and collectibles store located at 108 N. 1st St. in Easley.

The pattern is called Tulips and was originally made by Lula Beth Griffin, mother of Ben Griffin Jr. and grandmother of Jarrod Griffin of Easley.

It is one of countless variations of appliqued floral designs made by quilters in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Mrs. Griffin was born in January 1924 in the Madison community of Oconee County. She graduated from the old Cleveland High School and received a bachelor’s degree in education from Limestone College.

She married Ben Griffin in 1946 and moved to Easley where she still lives.

She taught fourth grade and fifth grade at Eastside Elementary School for most of her teaching career and is a member of Calvary Hill Baptist Church.

Lula Beth learned to quilt from her mother, Essie Jane Smith, and her grandmother, Lula Jane Spencer.

She belonged to a quilting club in the Madison area and many of her quilts were hand quilted on an old-fashioned quilt frame with the help of members of the club.

Her quilts are hand pieced, appliqued and quilted. The patterns were passed down to her by her mother, grandmother and sister, Vera Milas.

As best as Sam Norris is able to determine, the building on which the quilt was installed dates back to about 1902.

It was a Ford Motors dealership during the 1920s, then it became Winfield’s Department Store from the 1950s to the 80s.

In the 1990s it became an appliance store owned by Bob Cantrell and in 1998, Sam Norris bought it.

Visit www.uhqt.org for more information.

This quilt pattern is called Tulips and was originally made by Lula Beth Griffin, mother of Ben Griffin Jr. and grandmother of Jarrod Griffin of Easley. The quilt block now adorns the side of Sam Norris’ antiques, coins and collectibles store located at 108 N. 1st St. in Easley.
https://www.theeasleyprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_uhqtunclesamblock.jpgThis quilt pattern is called Tulips and was originally made by Lula Beth Griffin, mother of Ben Griffin Jr. and grandmother of Jarrod Griffin of Easley. The quilt block now adorns the side of Sam Norris’ antiques, coins and collectibles store located at 108 N. 1st St. in Easley.Courtesy photo

By Cynthia Leggett

For The Easley Progress