In honor of Juneteenth, Magnolia is so excited to welcome Virginia ‘Genya’ Watson for our next Speaker Series! 

Born and raised in Mount Pleasant, SC, Genya observed her mother, Ms. Elizabeth Stokes, for many years as she crafted sweetgrass baskets. Although Genya learned the tradition of making sweetgrass baskets, she fell in love with the artistic concept of handcrafting dolls since the 1950s. As a child, Genya’s dolls consisted of soda bottles, grass blades, and raggedy old clothing. It wasn’t long before Genya realized she had been blessed with a unique and memorable gift!

​Genya has taken up her childhood mantle and is "playing" with dolls once again; she is honored to present her very own one-of-a-kind Gullah Dolls of Charleston. The handcrafted dolls are accessorized with sweetgrass blades, evening dress purses, baskets, and their head wraps.

​Look for Gullah Dolls of Charleston at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. Genya’s hope is that you will enjoy owning her dolls and that you will remember gifting them helps spread the Gullah love!