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Back in the early 1960s, the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) launched a voter registration campaign in southwest Georgia .  The right to vote became the cornerstone of SNCC’s now famous “Freedom Now!” slogan.  The “Albany Movement”, which was part of that campaign, drew national attention when Dr. Martin Luther King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) entered the fray there in 1963.  One of the persons who answered the SNCC call to register to vote was Jessie Bell “Cousin Sis” Telfair.  She paid a heavy price for taking the courageous step to try and register to vote.  She was fired from her job as a cook at a local school.  After losing her job, “Cousin Sis” took up quilting full time.  Someone from SNCC suggested that she make a “freedom quilt.”  Thus the idea for her now famous “freedom quilt” was born.

Jessie Bell “Sis” Telfair was born January 1, 1913 in Terrell County , Georgia .  She lived in Terrell County until her death on October 3, 1986 .  She was the daughter of Ada Oxford Williams and Jim Williams.  Ada Oxford Williams was the sister of Mance Oxford.  Jessie’s father was a farmer, carpenter and a basket maker.  Her mother taught her to quilt.  Jessie married Samuel David Telfair and to that union two children were born—Betty Lou Telfair Hall, and Sherai Telfair Small.  

In 1963 Jessie lost her job as a cook at Helen Gurr Elementary School in Parrott , Georgia , when she answered SNCC’s call and attempted to register to vote.  Shortly after losing her job, she was visited by some SNCC students who urged her to make a freedom quilt.  The now famous quilt which resulted from that suggestion has been included in the Bicentennial Exhibition of Georgia Folk Art.  The quilt was titled “Missing Pieces.”  The quilt has been a traveling exhibit for almost 30 years.  It has been displayed at museums around the nation including; the Telfair Academy in Savannah, Georgia; the Atlanta Historical Society; the Columbus Museum of Art and Science, and the Library of Congress.  Her quilt has also been illustrated in numerous books on American Folk Art.  In February, 2004, the quilt was on exhibit in the Folk Art Museum in New York City .

The descendants of Jessie Bell and David Telfair are listed below:  

1 Jesse Bell "Sis" Telfair

. +Samuel David Telfair

...... 2 Sheria Small

.......... +Emest Small

.............. 3 Ernest "Rickey" Small 11 1953-

.................. +Clara Small

...................... 4 Melissa "Lisa" Small

...................... 4 Cornelius Small

...................... 4 Dontrovieus Serene Small

...................... 4 Antwan Small

...................... 4 Ernest Small III

.......................... +Lacresha A. Clay 1979-

.............................. 5 Christopher D. Small 1998-

.............. 3 Vedia Joyce "Bobbie" Ragin 1954-

.................. +Thomas Ragin

...................... 4 Thomas Deshun Ragin

...................... 4 David Jerod Ragin

...................... 4 Derrick Bernard Small

.............................. 5 Derrick Bernard Small II

.............. 3 Glen "Snoolde" Small 1955-

.................. +[1] Jackie Small

...................... 4 [2] Glen Small II

...................... 4 [3] Darrell Small

...................... 4 [4] Andre Jennings

.............. *2nd Wife of Glen "Snookie" Small:

.................. +[1] Jackie Small

...................... 4 [2] Glen Small n

...................... 4 [3] Darrell Small

...................... 4 [4] Andre Jennings

.............. 3 Betty Denise "Niecey" Small 1958-

...................... 4 Kenneth "Kenney" Small

.............. 3 Tony Lynn Small 1960-

.................. +Barbara Small

...................... 4 Jamar Small

...................... 4 Tasheba Small

...................... 4 Tony Small 11

...... 2 Betty Lou Hall

.......... +Willie Hall

.............. 3 Shirley Ann dark

.................. +Alvin Clark

...................... 4 Daryl Clark

...................... 4 Shari Clark

.............. 3 Marilyn Gale Hall

...................... 4 Deatrice Hall Smith

...................... 4 Tynisha Hall

.............. 3 Sheria Jean Waldon

.................. +Ronnie Waldon

...................... 4 Adrienne Waldon

...................... 4 Michael Waldon

...................... 4 Kimberly "Kirn" Hall

...................... 4 Diamond Hall

.............. 3 Patti Renee Hall Leaphart

.................. +George Leaphart

...................... 4 Latoya "Tarle" Hall

...................... 4 Marke Hall

...................... 4 Aaron Hall

...................... 4 Anthony Hall

.............. 3 WillieDarin Hall

   .............. 3 Rodderick Hall

...  ................... 4 Tavious Hall

The children of Jesse Bell "Cousin Sis" Telfair are denoted by #2, the grandchildren are #3, the great-grandchildren are #4, and the great-great-grandchildren are #5.