Tonda Jeffcoat
pottery
My first pottery class was in 1974 in Wilson, NC and a life-long passion for clay was born. Along with my husband, Joe Jeffcoat, who caught the “clay bug” soon after me, we attended class at Wilson Community College and at Dan Finch studio in Bailey, NC. We built our first gas kiln behind our home in Wilson, firing our work there and at Finch Pottery.
After retiring in 2005, we moved to Little River, SC and opened Jeffcoat Pottery in Calabash, teaching pottery to local students, hosting workshops, and creating our line of functional pottery pieces. Our work was very collaborative, with Joe throwing on the wheel and me adding to the design with carving or piercing. Upon Joe’s death in 2020, I closed Jeffcoat Pottery studio.
This new chapter in my clay life has me throwing pots in my garage studio and continuing my love of carving and piecing pieces for others to enjoy. I continue to enjoy changing and adding interest to a clay surface using various tools to create texture. Joe’s legacy helps to keep my journey moving forward.
