Artists Choci Gray, Maner Nobles, and Charles Hannibal. Photo: Kristy Bock/Neuse News

Alice Hannibal was the first woman and the first African-American elected to Kinston’s city council. To honor her trailblazing life, the seventh and final mural as part of the Downtown Kinston Mural Program will feature an eight-foot tall, eight-foot wide image of Alice Hannibal painted by artists Choci Gray, Maner Nobles, and Alice’s son Charles Hannibal.

“When I met Alice I was a child. When I saw Alice in her suit, and her purse and her hat, and all this quiet dignity, I wanted to grow up like Alice,” said Nobles.

The mural is in progress at the Golden Progress Community Center on 524 S Queen St. in partnership with New Hope Church Ministries. The mural will be on the south-facing wall.

“We are painting the Alice Hannibal legacy,” said Gray.

Alice ran for a seat on the city council a few times before being elected in 1959 even though threats were made against her life and crosses were burned in her front yard.

“I would love to say that this was a wonderful place to grow up,” said Charles Hannibal. “In context, this is the applause at the end of the show, but act I and act II were kind of grim.”

Alice Hannibal served one term on the city council, she ran for Lenoir County commissioner but was not elected.

“Having people say all these wonderful things now, they didn’t think that the kind of work my parents were doing was all that wonderful back then,” said Charles Hannibal. “It was being more inclusive of people of color.”

The mural will also feature Dr. John J. Hannibal Sr., Alice’s husband, who retired after 52 years of service as a physician in Kinston.

“The idea behind it is to be a bridge or springboard. This picture on one hand will be a pretty picture, and on the other hand, will have the symbolism. I can’t tell her story in pictures, there is too much detail,” said Charles Hannibal. “Hopefully people will see the mural and ask who is that, and why?”