Jamie Alvey and her husband Jack moved to Selma in 2014 when Jack became the rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Since then, Jamie has found ways to get involved and become part of Selma’s community.

“One of my favorite things about Selma is the people who live here,” Alvey said. “I also love the rich history, the beautiful old buildings, St. Paul’s and Mark’s Mart.”

The couple has two children, Mary Katherine and John, and Alvey has since taken up quilting to stay at home with the kids.

“I’m passionate about people, helping people,” Alvey said. “In this season of life, this is my way of helping people is to make pretty things for folks. It’s a different way of doing it, but it’s a way to bring joy to people.”

Before quilting, Jamie received her bachelor’s and master’s in social work from The University of Alabama and did some private counseling when she first got to Selma.

Although she plans to again work in that field down the road, right now she is enjoying making items for people and staying home with her daughter and son.

“It is a way to be creative, but I can do it from home with my kids home,” Alvey said. “I like doing things for people and seeing their excitement when they see things. It’s just a fun and happy thing to do.”

It’s not just quilts that she makes though. Jamie has been able to use her artistic side to come up with some ideas of her own.

She makes crowns, bibs, quilts and more, and specializes in baby and children items.

“I’m a quilter, but I do a lot more than quilting,” she said. “People in Selma have been very supportive of this new adventure that I’ve got. I don’t know that I could have done this [somewhere else].”

Jamie is also involved in some organizations around town, working with Christian Services for Children, serving on the board for Public Radio and she is on the Bloom Project board. At church, Jamie teaches children in a Montessori based program, Catechesis of the Good Shepard.

Jamie said she is also passionate about music and grew up taking piano and classical guitar lessons, and enjoys sharing that with her daughter.

Jamie said Selma has been good to her family, and she is excited to see Selma’s future.

“When we moved here, we really didn’t know what to expect, but people were so warm and welcoming,” Jamie said. “We love our church and we love our community. Ever since we moved here, I’ve heard a lot of talk about a revival happening in Selma and I can definitely feel that.”