On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) hosted an artist reception and opening program for “Souls Shot Portrait Project: Portraits of Victims of Gun Violence," sponsored by the Gloucester County Cultural and Heritage Commission and supported by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. The free event took place at 11 a.m. in the Gloucester Campus's College Center.

Souls Shot Portrait Project is a non-profit organization that connects fine artists with families or friends of victims of gun violence to create portraits of the affected loved ones. These portraits not only memorialize the victims but also act as a celebration of the lives they lived, keeping both their memory and stories alive. While developing the artwork, the families and friends meet with the artists to discuss details about their loved ones and what they want to be included. The artists then use various mediums and styles to provide unique portraits for the surviving families and friends.

Many of those in attendance at Wednesday's reception were the relatives of the victims, including RCSJ's own English Associate Professor, Carthornia Kouroupos, who connected with Souls Shot Portrait Project to memorialize her niece, Yolanda Jones. Kouroupos shared an original poem at the reception as she discussed the meaning behind the portrait, Circle of Love, by artist Ann Hayes, which features Jones vibrantly displayed in a round format to symbolize her love and spirit in an eternal circle of connection to those she shared her life with.

“I'm honored to be here today at the Souls Shot Portrait Exhibit," said Kouroupos, “It memorializes the loved ones of mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and friends. It gives a chance for all of you – who never got a chance to meet these people – know a little bit about them."

Kouroupos had also previously worked with Souls Shot Portrait Project to memorialize her late brother, Ronald Sanders, another victim of the tragedy of gun violence.

“With this you would think that one was enough, but as we can see, sometimes families have more than one life being taken ..." Kouroupos continued, describing the impact of losing multiple family members to gun violence, “... I love the fact that Souls Shot is giving them a chance to advocate for themselves, even in the fact that they're no longer here."

Marsha Burrell-Green, another speaker at the reception and mother of one of the victims, Lee Williams Jr., discussed the tragedy of losing her son: “Lee was loved and respected in the community of Salem. They called him 'a quiet storm' because of his quiet demeanor."

Williams' portrait, A Quiet Storm, by artist Jeff Feeny, now memorializes his epithet.

Burrell-Green recounted just how meaningful Souls Shot Portrait Project has been for her, “I am so grateful for Souls Shot... I have the opportunity to bring my baby back to life to me – just to see his face and the twinkle in his eyes... My artist right here, Jeff Feeny, he didn't even know, and I didn't even tell him about my son being a donor... someone has my baby's eyes."

“It's funny you mention the eyes..." Feeny added, regarding the happenstance, “I put colored pencil just on his eyes and I did not know that part about his eyes, but I wanted his eyes to twinkle."

Feeny also shared how positive the experience was in creating the portrait for Burrell-Green: “I get as much out of it as you do, so I appreciate getting to work on that. Thank you."

Aubrey Frank, Associate Director of Souls Shot Portrait Project, explained the process of how the exhibition travels, expanding its reach and impact: “These portraits will be here for a period of time and then travel to different parts of New Jersey, so other people will get to know these beautiful souls."

“A lot of families mentioned this idea of bringing their loved ones back to life through this project... and I think that there's something truly beautiful about that." Frank continued, reflecting on the project's mission, “The goal of the whole project is to remember the lives and really sit with the weight of the gun crisis in our country and smaller communities."

Cathie McGeehan, South Jersey Co-lead from Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, also spoke about the impact of gun violence in our communities: “Right now, they're saying that probably 52% of Americans know somebody who has been affected by gun violence. That's a pretty big part of our population."

Judy MacKenzie, RCSJ's Director of Radio, Television, and Film Services, and a long-time member of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, serves as the volunteer coordinator of the NJ Souls Shot Portrait Project exhibition. She helps advocate against gun violence by facilitating this event annually at RCSJ.

“The first time I ever saw the Souls Shot Portrait Project I hoped to bring it to our beautiful gallery here at RCSJ. This is now the third NJ exhibition I have supported, and my commitment has grown over the years because I've seen that the collaborative process of creating these portraits brings healing and a new, positive memory to associate with the loved ones whose lives have been taken.  As a Moms Demand volunteer, this has by far been the most impactful way I have found to educate people about gun violence and how to prevent it."

“We have had meetings where she [MacKenzie] has invited us here to see some of the projects, and she [MacKenzie] has some of the survivors speak, and our organization [Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America] is all about preventing gun violence." said McGeehan, “By having our meetings here, we open our membership up to people who may not be really familiar with the Souls Shot Portrait Project."

For those who wish to experience the gallery: The Souls, NJ Chapter, Volume 3, visit the Gloucester Campus College Center from now until May 30 or go online at soulsshotportraitproject.org/2025-26​njexhibition. For more information about Souls Shot Portrait Project, contact Judy MacKenzie at [email protected]​​