Florence Wade

Florence was born April 28th 1922. Her parents were David Adam Harris Sr. and Dorothy Minerva Price Harris. Her father was chief of the Catawba Naion for about 20 years. Florence learned to make pottery from her older sisters Jennie, Edith, Fanny, and Sara Ayers, who learned from their grandmother. She started making pottery as a young girl, and any mistakes that were made were corrected by her sisters. As a teenager Florence wold bild pieces for her sister to sell at the Cherokee Reservation. She continued working in pottery until she began working in the public secter. Thirty years later, she retired and began work again in pottery, in order to spread the tradition. She gets great satisfaction from pottery in knowing that she is carrying on the tradition of her ancestors. She loves making Pitchers and considers them to be her signature piece. However, the most valuable piece to her is the peace pipe because it has brought various cultures together throughout time. She carries on the tradition by teaching her own children and grandchildren as well as others. She also does pottery demonstrations for visiting groups at the Catawba Cultural Center. She believes that it is very important that we follow the culture of our ancestors and she continues using the same rubbing rock that her grandmother, Sara Harris, used. Florence Wade is considered a Master Potter.