Episode 118 - Phyllis Elmore – Quilt of Souls and “Righting” Your Story

Our guest today is Phyllis Elmore, a remarkable woman whose story is as unforgettable as the quilts that helped shape her life.

Phyllis is the author of Quilt of Souls, a powerful and deeply personal memoir that has touched readers across the country.

Born in the Detroit and raised by her grandmother Lula in rural Alabama, Phyllis found herself immersed in a world of deep wisdom, quiet strength, and generational resilience. It was there, surrounded by women who stitched their pain, perseverance, and history into quilts, that Phyllis discovered healing—and the true meaning of family.

In 1973, Phyllis joined the United States Air Force and was one of the first female Aircraft Pneudraulic Specialist for the B-52 Bomber.

After leaving the Air Force she attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology.  In 2001, she joined the Army National Guard as an active-duty guard member.

It’s also noteworthy to mention that Phyllis was one of only a handful of women in the military who served in three major military conflicts including the Vietnam Era where she served a temporary duty assignment to Vietnam before the 1975 fall of Saigon.  She was also deployed to Saudi Arabia as a member of Operation Desert Storm, and in December 2003 as a member of the Army National Guard where she was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

In her civilian career she worked as a counselor for incarcerated youth and for women who were victims of domestic violence. She also spent ten years as a Substance Abuse Counseling Supervisor.

In her remarkable book Quilt of Souls, Phyllis shares stories that were nearly lost—stories of the Black women who raised children not theirs, who held families together through hardship, and who passed down their heritage through hands that stitched, cooked, comforted, and carried so much.

Her writing is rich, lyrical, and full of love—an act of remembrance and a celebration of the strength it takes to keep going, and to keep telling the truth.

(3:11) Born and growing up in Detroit – at four years old Phyllis was swept away to Alabama to live with her grandmother. Hear her story. Learn about the special quilt that her grandmother gave her and the profound feeling of safety is had on her.

(8:03) Learn more about Grandmother Lula – quite the remarkable woman! Phyllis tells of Lula’s quilts and the connections they had with the local community. And…she lived to be 105 – still threading a needle at 100 years old!

(15:55) Phyllis chose to serve in the Air Force and subsequently in the Army. She explains why she made this choice. She takes you through her adolescent return to Detroit and the challenges that transition brought to her life…being labeled an “incorrigible”.

(23:57) In civilian life, Phyllis served as a counselor for troubled adolescences and women who experienced domestic violence. Learn why she made this choice and what we should know about the people she helped.

(27:30) What was Phyllis’ inspiration to write her book Quilt of Souls?

(30:39) Was there a special story that Phyllis remembers from the research for her book?

(34:27) Phyllis talks about some of the special quilts she encountered is her book research and the special people associated with them. Meet Miss Jubilee!

(40:43) Learn about the Quilt of Souls Preservation project. Then hear firsthand about Phyllis’ Quilt of Souls event coming up next June…2026.

(46:15) What does Phyllis hope her readers take away from her book  Quilt of Souls?

(51:00) What didn’t we ask that she wishes we had?

(52:10) How can you reach Phyllis? www.thequiltofsould.com or email her at thequiltofsouls@yahoo.com 

Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our guests.

Subscribe & Listen: Don’t miss future episodes! Follow Sew & So Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

If you know someone you think has an outstanding story – a story that should be shared on this podcast, please drop me a note to meg@sew&sewpodcast.com  or complete the form on our website.

Key Words: phylliselmore, Quiltofsouls