By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

HARPERSVILLE—Brightly colored dresses lined tables and sewing machines whirred as a group of women crafted garments for children in Africa at the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Harpersville on April 12.

The project was inspired by former Harpersville Town Councilwoman and longtime church member Shirley Middleton, who passed away in October 2015.

“Sister Shirley…announced it in church in December (2014) that we would start this project on the first of the year (2015),” Cora Dates recalled. “She had talked to a lady…(who said) that their church was doing it, we just jumped on it.”

After Middleton’s death, Dates was asked to organize and lead the project.

“At first, my nerves said no, but I did (it),” Dates said. “It’s just been a lot of fun.”

A group of women from the church began sewing in January with a goal of creating 50 dresses for little girls.

The volunteers met regularly at the church to sew on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and as weeks and months went by, the project grew and the group began sewing shorts for boys.

Now the group has sewed a variety of shorts and more than 100 dresses for girls and boys of all ages and sizes.

The garments were created from pillowcases and fabric donated to the project.

The women put their own touches on the dresses, making them bright, cheerful and unique with embellishments such as ruffles, lace, pockets, ribbon and more.

“We put details on everything,” Dates said. “They look pretty for little girls to enjoy wearing.”

Dates said the project will wrap up soon and the children’s garments will be packaged and sent to Africa under the direction of Pastor Clarence Carter.