Gail Pittman POTTERY DESIGNER sale on September 9, 2005 and sales were rapid. All of the proceeds are being sent to the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and the Governor’s Fund. “The colors reflect a coastline, and the red in the pieces are representative of the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. We named the set ‘Home and Future’ because of Jeremiah 29:11, which reads, ‘For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’ It is my hope that the pieces reflect the tapestry of lives and businesses that have been adversely affected by Katrina. It is also my hope that they give a message to the world that Mississippi is open for business and ready to rebuild,” Pittman said.
Gail Pittman was less than one year old when she moved to Indianola, Mississippi, where her father had taken a job as the high school football coach. She followed her father’s footsteps and became a teacher. In 1981, she retired from teaching upon the birth of her second child. Needing an outlet for her creativity, she started designing and making pottery on her kitchen table. Today, her designs are sold throughout the world from a network of more than 500 specialty and gourmet stores, and her company operates a manufacturing plant in Ridgeland. She also designs all the dinnerware for Southern Living’s publication, Southern Living at Home and serves as the publication’s creative director. When Hurricane Katrina devastated the southern part of the state in August of 2005, Pittman knew she had to do something.
Pittman’s company sales of Christmas ornaments and Easter eggs have also generated enough income to Habitat for Humanity to build 12 homes in Mississippi. Generating jobs and money for Mississippi projects seems to
She explained, “In 1979, we lost everything we owned in a flood.
come naturally for Gail Pittman. The company started around her
The American Red Cross and The Salvation Army were the first to
kitchen table and she explains it’s still a homey business. “We still
respond. They fed us, gave us information, and – perhaps most
gather around the table – there’s just many more people meeting
importantly, provided us an anchor in a senseless time, in which
at the table.”
we were unable to make life-changing decisions. I knew
The table is well set – thanks to Gail Pittman. ■
I needed to generate income for the charities.” She sat down and designed a bowl and tray – which she named Hope and Future. The pieces were put up for
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Photo above: A festive table in the showroom. Left: The Hope & Faith bowls.