Meet Pebble: The Cherokee Matriarch Who Inspired a Legacy of Copper Craft

Fierce. Creative. Grounded in tradition. Pebble Ross wasn’t just Greg’s grandmother—she was the root system beneath everything we do at Cherokee Copper. Her love, strength, and unapologetic pride in being Cherokee helped shape the artist Greg would become, and the business we’d eventually build together.

This is her story. And it's also ours.

Who Was Pebble? A Force of Nature and a Maker of Makers

Pebble was a woman of many talents. She could put out a feast and feed a whole family—something she did often as the matriarch of a large extended family. She was one of eight siblings, and her husband, Mose “Buster” Ross, was one of twelve. Holidays and Sunday dinners happened around the handmade dining table her husband built. That table still exists today—Greg has one half, and his brother has the other.

She was the glue. The one who kept the family connected across generations. And while she nurtured, she also led—with boldness, with backbone, and with love.

Pebble taught Greg to sew on her mother’s old machine, to cook, to garden, and to take pride in doing things with his own hands. That sewing machine still lives in our home, a reminder of where this journey started.

She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. She was small in stature, but you’d never know it by the way she carried herself. And she was fiercely proud of her Cherokee heritage—at a time when it wasn’t easy to be Native American.

The Etowah Story – A Legacy Pebble Refused to Let Be Forgotten

Pebble didn’t just teach—she documented. She was passionate about preserving the stories of those who came before us. One of her greatest contributions is a book she wrote and published: The Etowah Story.

Etowah, Oklahoma may be a small town, but its story is woven deeply into the lives of Cherokee families who were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands and rebuilt their lives in Indian Territory. Pebble saw how vital it was to preserve that story.

She gathered names, dates, stories, photographs, and details from church records, schoolhouses, and family histories. The Etowah Story became a written record of the community’s resilience—covering marriages, births, school life, community celebrations, and daily life in a town shaped by Cherokee hands.

Today, we still have the original book. We hope to republish it in the future, so we can share Pebble’s work—and the stories of Etowah—with all of you.

Read more about The Etowah Story here →

The Pebble Collection – Named in Her Honor

Our Pebble Collection wasn’t just inspired by Pebble—it was named after her. Each piece in this Native American copper jewelry collection carries the strength, individuality, and tradition she embodied.

These designs are hand-hammered, cut, and shaped—no two are exactly alike. The hammering process not only strengthens the copper but brings out its beauty. Over time, these pieces develop a rich patina, aging gracefully just like the stories they hold.

The ¾” hammered copper earrings were one of our first-ever designs, originally made by Greg. Today, they're still a customer favorite, now handcrafted by our son, Joshua—making this a true generational legacy in every sense.

The Story Behind the Mother’s Tear

The Mother’s Tear pendant is more than just jewelry—it’s a symbol of strength, of motherhood, and of the emotional bond Pebble had with her family. It was designed as a tribute to her and the legacy of strong Cherokee women who lead with both love and power.

Learn more about the story behind the Mother’s Tear →

How Pebble Helped Launch Cherokee Copper

Without Pebble, there would be no Cherokee Copper. Her influence didn’t end with cooking lessons or family stories. She brought Greg to Tahlequah when he was young, introduced him to Cherokee traditions, and showed him that connection to heritage was something to be proud of.

Years later, Lisa encouraged Greg to explore those crafts again—and that spark led to the founding of Cherokee Copper. Today, Greg is an award-winning Cherokee coppersmith, and our work continues to reflect the values Pebble passed on: creativity, strength, tradition, and pride.

Strong Native Women Build Strong Native Futures

Pebble reminds us that strong Native women lay the foundation for generations to come. They carry the traditions, preserve the stories, and pass on the pride of who we are.

Through this collection—and through everything we do—we hope to honor her legacy and help you carry it forward. Every time you wear a piece from the Pebble Collection, you’re wearing a piece of her story. And now, you’re part of it too.

→ Explore the full Pebble Collection here