In 2022, everything changed for Mr. Zerick Jones.
Within just three weeks, he lost his wife, his brother, and his father. The grief was crushing. Searching for healing, Zerick left Wilmington and moved to Winston-Salem, hoping a change
of scenery would help him rebuild.
But grief doesn’t follow geography—and by August 2024, he found himself without a home.
Zerick returned to Wilmington, the city that raised him, holding onto only a sliver of hope that things could get better. That’s when he was connected with the Sgt. Eugene Ashley Center—a place where Veterans like him find more than a bed. They find support. Stability. A path forward.
“I didn’t know the extent of my PTSD or how much it affected me,” Zerick shared.
But through mental health services, therapy, and real community care, he began to recover.
And then—something beautiful happened.
n the midst of healing, Zerick rediscovered an old love: art. What began as a quiet return to creativity has since become a bold reawakening. He’s now receiving art commissions and teaching classes through the Veterans Creative Arts Program, with workshops launching across Wilmington this spring.
In March, Zerick moved into his own apartment—with a home studio to continue his work.
Today, he’s not just housed—he’s creating again. Contributing. Teaching. Thriving.
This is what support looks like.
This is what healing can become.
This is why we do the work.