There are two important signs outside the Martling Friendship Center. One identifies the building and the other tells you about its focus.
When you open the front door, you understand why the “Quilts for Sale” sign out front is so important. The pulpit that served the Ephesus Primitive Baptist Church for years is there, surround by quilts on display.
To the left, quilts are on the exercise equipment but can easily be moved to use the treadmill or bicycles. Then to the right, a large bolt of batting is set up. And along one wall is an old church pew filled with quilt tops from people in the community waiting for the ladies at the friendship center to finish the quilts.
The quilting frame takes up a large portion of the right side of the room and stays in use daily.
“We’re more than just quilting here,” said Joyce Lambert, 81. “But we do a lot of it and enjoy it.”
On a recent Tuesday morning, there are five ladies working on a quilt. Along with Lambert is Eva Kelly, 86, Evelyne Shirey, 75, Mary West, 86 but soon to be 87, and Mary Germain, 82. There are four more ladies who regularly work on the quilts too, she added.
It’s a good thing because that bench is full of projects for them.
Denise Williams, the center manager said they quilt three to four a week, depending on the size.
The ladies paid tribute to Gail Hyde, who either helped teach them or invited them to the center to join the quilting bee. Gail died in December 2023, but she is not forgotten.
“She left a lot of good memories here,” Evelyn said. “She fixed clothes and hemmed them, made tops and donated a lot of things.”
Aside from the quilts, which is a big draw to the center, there’s also fun, games and food there. That’s the friendship part.
“They kidnapped me,” Joyce said joking. “No, they invited me here …”
Mary West said she’s been going to the center for years because she likes everyone there.
“We can be ourselves and we play with each other, have a good time,” she said. “And we all get along.”
At a nearby table, Lois Gilstrap, 85, is working on a puzzle, but her reasons for coming to the center are simple.
“I needed a place to play Rook!” Lois said. “And it motivates me to get up and get going. Otherwise, I’d probably sit at home in my pajamas all day.”
Bingo is another popular activity which took place today. And while waiting for lunch to be served, the conversations focused on everything from favorite restaurants to trips the group has taken together or are planning. Everyone is looking forward to taking a trip to Isom’s Apple Orchard near Athens on June 25.
“We have a lot of fun here,” said Lynn Christian, 67. She and her husband Dean, 70, have been going to the center a few years.
Bobby Rice, 88, said he’s been a regular at the center for about five years because he likes to play games, Bingo, and sometimes he goes on the center’s trips.
“There’s a lot of good comraderie here,” said JoAnn Richey, 83.
Denise started working at the center in 2018 as the bus driver before she became center manager when the job opened up. But her history with the center goes back to her childhood.
She said her grandmother was the first manager of the Martling Friendship Center, and she attended the old Ephesus Primitive Baptist Church, the building in which the friendship center is now located.
“When I was a kid I came to the center a lot in the summer,” Denise recalled. “I guess even when I was young, I was old.”
Her love for the center and its participants shows.
Denise said the center serves 25 hot meals daily each week and delivers nine meals to homebound participants. Rides to the center are available by calling the center at 256-878-5751.
More recently, the community is sometimes called MAPS – to include Martling, Asbury and Poplar Springs. Everyone knows about the quilting and the center’s raffle held every three or four months. This month a patriotic quilt featuring an American Eagle and American flag is up for grabs in honor of the upcoming Fourth of July holiday. For $1 tickets, stop by the center.
Denise said the funds raised from the quilts help pay for the center’s day trips or special group outings to eat.
“Anybody can join us here,” Eva Kelly said.
“That’s right. We’re more than happy for anyone to sign up,” Denise said. “These ladies will teach you how to sew or you can play Rook or have fun playing Bingo and any of the other activities we have here.”
The center is located at 4059 Martling Road outside of Albertville in Marshall County.
