When a child is in a traumatic situation in Auburn, the police will provide a soft quilt blanket or yarn animal for comfort. Linda Fenty, affectionately known as “the quilt lady,” creates the small quilts and animal figures for the Auburn Police Department (APD) to have ready for children in emergencies such as a car accident or domestic distress. The quilts are also distributed to various agencies in Lee County to provide caring comfort for a child’s most fearful moments.
While Linda’s grandmother in South Alabama taught her how to sew and make quilts, she didn’t get serious about the craft until she attended the international quilt show in France. Linda was in Stuttgart, Germany at the time, working on a project for US Africa Command and the joint chiefs of staff in D.C.
“When I attended the quilt show,” she says, “I fell in love with the quilts and began experimenting with more styles and methods.”
Linda and her husband, Col. Alan Fenty, both had interesting careers that led them to live in various places around the globe. Linda’s work experiences included having lunch at the White House and working for the US Ambassador at the Embassy in Argentina during one of her husband’s two tours there.
The couple moved to Birmingham to be near family and were spending time between there and Washington, D.C. In Birmingham, she belonged to two quilting guilds. When the couple both retired, they decided to move to Auburn. Linda had lived in the area in 1979 while working on her doctorate at the university.
In 2022, when their 5-year-old grandson visited from Houston, Texas, he talked about wanting to be a policeman when he grew up. Linda called the Auburn Public Safety Communications Center to see if she could take him to the APD for an officer to talk to her grandson about his work.
The APD sent two officers to their house to talk to their grandson. The officers let him check out their car and the equipment. When he came for another visit, APD made him an honorary Auburn policeman.
Linda was so thankful for the attention they gave their grandson and for guiding her to the correct agency when she was helping a family member. She began to think about how she could give back.
Since quilting was her hobby, she asked if the policemen could use small quilts to give children involved in car accidents or other trauma. The APD was thankful for the donation of quilts.
Linda began taking the quilts in March 2024 and as of December 2025, she has presented them more than 100 quilts as well as many crocheted animals. She also gave them “worry buddies,” that are stuffed animals with a zipper for the mouth. The children can whisper their worries or fears into the open zipper and zip it up.
The EMT and firemen also have access to the quilts and crocheted animals. They keep a quilt or two in their car for any incident involving a child.
To thank Linda, the APD presented her with a service award in December 2024.
The children’s quilted blankets are generally about 45×45 inches or larger. She also makes larger quilts for teens and adults in stressful situations.
“They told me there had been two little girls in the police station all day,” says Linda. “They gave each of them a quilt, and the girls wrapped up in the blankets for comfort. Now that I am fully retired, it is something I can do to give back.”
Linda is part of a small quilting group in Auburn that gathers once a month to sew. The quilt makers have donated fabric and batting, while some have made quilts and quilt tops that have helped Linda with her project. Most small quilts take about 12 hours to complete.
Every year Linda coordinates a quilt retreat in Asheville, N.C., that is attended by women from around the globe. At the 11th retreat last year, 45 women attended. At the retreat, they make red, white and blue quilts they call “quilts of honor” that they give to retired and active duty military, law enforcement, firemen and EMTs.
Linda’s sewing room is filled with shelves of bright colored fabrics with designs that appeal to children. One wall is covered with dozens of threads in a variety of colors. She has a large basket of squares that have been cut out and are ready to use. Someone gives her flannel fabrics every year to make soft quilts. Most of the fabrics for children’s quilts have animals or symbols that appeal to boys and girls.
“I have friends that make wonderful donations,” she says. “It is so nice to have support for my ministry.”
Linda creates quilts for her family and has four generations of family quilts. Her six grandchildren request quilts, and the boys like them as much as the girls. She has made quilts in detailed hand sewing as heirlooms for her three daughters and son.
“I grew up with my grandmothers and grandfathers who had fireplaces and space heaters, and we all slept under piles of homemade quilts.” Linda says. “There is nothing better than being wrapped in a quilt. I think when you don’t feel well you wrap yourself up in a blanket. They seem to help you feel better.
“If I can help a child or anybody feel better in moments of bad times, that is wonderful. If you can’t be there to give a hug in person, a quilt is the next best thing.”
“Linda represents the Auburn citizenry,” says Chief Cedric Anderson of the APD. “Her actions are all you need to witness to know she cares about the people comprising the community and creates those beautiful quilts as a labor of love. The quilts are something tangible, letting the recipients know someone cares.
“When you see Linda’s creations, you realize that she sees people in a unique, spiritual way. The quilts make you smile and inspire you to consider the wellbeing of others – especially children. They are like a prayer to wrap around someone in need.”
