Inner Starr Compass Healing CEO Collaborates the City of Oxford to Complete its First Veteran Mural
In 2014, I retired after 24 years of service in the United States Navy (USN). In 2022, I moved to North Carolina. In hopes of learning how to merge my work in mental health, art, and service together, I took a six-month program guided experts from the UPLIFT Team. That was how I got inspired to seek a grant to fund the painting of a veteran mural.
Community Support
I collaborated with several organizations and businesses to create the first veteran mural in Oxford and Granville County. These partners include Aletha Williams (veteran artist and project manager), Douglas Rowe (veteran artist), Sarah Clairborne (Oxford Muralist and artist), the Joel Foundation, the Durham Veterans Administration Recreation Department, the Downtown Economic Development Committee, the Tobacco Wood Brewing Company, and Mark Pace (Oxford historian and librarian).
The goal was to create an image representing our veterans and the town’s historical military involvement. A portion of the mural was structured so the community, especially our veterans and their families, were invited to become a part of the project. I now, invite veterans from all over North Carolina to come and place their handprints on the mural. We successfully engage the community and business partners to create this project titled, “The Sacred Witness.”
Testimonies
Well Done! You have always brought joy and smiles to everyone around you. This Mural is a testament to who you are, Aletha, and what you bring to your community and your Country! Thank you for capturing these events on a beautiful mural! –Matt Niedzwiecki
Beautiful work! Thank you Aletha for honoring our Veterans with spirit and heart. -Desiree Douglass
Huge congratulations, Sis!!! All your hard work and perseverance to fulfill God’s Purpose are worth it!!! Take it all in and enjoy!!! –Julie Hips
What a great accomplishment, beautiful art, dedication, and a beautiful soul. Well deserved! I wish I could see it in person. It’s an awesome tribute to all of our heroes! Thank you!!! -Ellen Jaquins Hull
This is so incredible! What a beautiful gift for the community. Thank you for working so hard on this and for giving all your heart to bring this inspiring art to life! –Lynn Thomas
Huge congratulations to an extremely talented artist and veteran! I’m so very proud of you. Sending hugs! –Rose M G Jackson
OMG……..Congratulations again and again!!! Yoour vision to reality!!! I am so proud of you, Sis!!! I can’t wait to see it. –Tera Crockett
Hi Aletha Williams, I just listened to your interview, and I felt uplifted by it. –Darlene Stroschein
Amazing mural, and inspiring interview! Thank you, Aletha for sharing this with not just the community in Oxford, but all of us as well. Awesome!!! -Craig Abraham
Congratulations on a job well done! -Troy Torres
So proud of you. Your dedication to helping others and your continuous service and sacrifice is so heartwarming. You are amazing! –Chaney Lindsay
Thank you for sharing your talent and passion with all of us! Oxford is blessed to have you! First of many more, I hope!! -Pierre Gingue
Congrats! This is awesome, you are awesome. The work is exceptional and inspiring. -Lorraine Rose Ranks
So gorgeous!!! Well done! -Carisa Ann
We are so proud of you. -Phoenix Palmer
Awesome labor of love! -Margaret Zancanella
This is absolutely beautiful! What a labor of love and dedication! Congrats on being such a positive force for good in the world! I am so impressed by your talent and vision, and so amazingly proud of your work! You are amazing! -Mary Kelly
My heartfelt gratitude to all veterans – thank you so much for your service! -John Tovey
Awesome work! Congratulations on a true art piece. -Leon Higgins
I walked by it on Halloween…it is amazing and you are wonderfully talented! -Carisa Ann
Now sit back my battle 4life and watch the fold of many cries, stress, wondering, worrying and struggles open up before your eyes miraculously. You are a blessing too many. Your works speak (speaking) for you…know your works are not in vain… look you stay Mounted Queen. -Annie Hines
FANTABULOUS Aletha! I feel like I’ve been a part of this from the beginning. Collaborative measures of you two taking on such a grandiose and honorable project that you are giving from your heart and soul. Best of all… your patient interaction WITH the community… explaining all those involved, the purpose, and your tenacious energy to finish strong (using every available sunlit hour of the day). Ensuring even minute details are remarkably shown. I’ve heard vast commentary echoing the elderly female passerby noting the city of Oxford has been TOUCHED! Beautiful!! -Dawn Melanie
Outstanding work of art. -Terrel Lyn
Very impressive!! Beautiful! And thank you for serving and always caring. -Melody Whalen Lich
From a retired Marine Corps vet, who served for 20 yrs, thank you. -Bockarie Jombor
Hello my beautiful and talented sister! You are amazing and this is amazing work. -Jennifer Michelle
Congratulations!!!! Absolutely astounding! -Charles Washington