Essie Bendolph Pettway (born 1956), the only daughter of Mary Lee Bendolph and Rubin Bendolph, began quilting at the age of eight. Although trained by her mother, Essie developed a distinctive style and was producing accomplished quilts while still in her teens. She has worked for many years making uniforms for the armed forces. Her highly practiced sewing skills enable her to tackle complex quilt patterns and introduce subtle optical effects into them. Over the years she also has created a number of quilts that incorporate camouflage patterns from her day job. Essie is among the last women in Gee’s Bend to continue practicing her craft. She has been a featured quiltmaker in the exhibitions The Quilts of Gee’s Bend; Gee’s Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt; Mary Lee Bendolph, Gee’s Bend Quilts, and Beyond, and Creation Story: Gee’s Bend Quilts and the Art of Thornton Dial.