Willis M. Graves: The Color of Courage Biography-7
Returning Willis' Watch to
Great-Niece Susan L. Mask
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Susan L. Mask, Willis' great-niece (her grandfather and Willis were brothers), knew "Uncle Bill" as a child, and is very knowledgeable about the Graves family contribution to the Civil Rights movement. ​​​​​His watch was returned to Susan in July 2025, and will remain a treasured legacy. ​
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Susan, a talented artist, has depicted her family's history at many exhibitions. In 2020, her solo exhibit, "Back Then - Black History Told through Art", featured art works inspired by the Graves' family "Oak Crest" homestead in Oberlin Village, NC. ​​
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Uncle Willis Graves and his wife Irene are the subjects of this wonderful mixed-media watercolor.
"My paintings are based on family photographs from the early 20th century that capture the spirit of the African American community that flourished then in the face of the indignities of the times. It is a testimony to resourcefulness and resilience that, despite Jim Crow laws, we survived.
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Using a variety of media such as pencil, pen, ink, watercolor, and acrylic, Susan illustrated "people who persisted in the face of challenges and thrived despite Black Codes, race discrimination, Jim Crow and more...My hope is that these images will be both a lesson and an inspiration for all of us today."
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There are many lessons in fortitude and renewal that we can learn from this uniquely American story. My featured pieces are part of an on-going series of paintings that emphasize family and community critical to our survival then and now."