In Tribute to my son and Dad. Joshua Devon Stirling was born with a birth defect on September 25th, 1982 in Bronx, New York and despite his health challenges, he lived life purposefully and intentionally while pursuing his dream and love for the arts as a profession. As a child, The Make A Wish Foundation gifted him his first computer and that computer would be the catalyst to his development as a skilled artist and illustrator. He also entered the State of Georgia Art High School contest, won 2nd place where Congressman John Lewis bought his original drawing. That drawing is currently a part of John Lewis's private art collection. In the early 2000s, Joshua further challenged himself in the airbrush genre and gained a local following of customers in Savannah, Georgia while shortly living there with his grandparents. In 2010, with fervent passion and hard work, he pursued and finally graduated from Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Animation. He became a Composter for Special Effects for featured films for the Marvel Universe Studio located in Los Angeles, California. He was blessed to have travelled the world with his girlfriend. His final project was becoming an accomplished illustrator for a prominent New York City Pharmacist, Susan Kokura, for her book, ”Adventures Of Molz, Alzheimersland” which was published on Amazon. The book addressed the issue of how we can cope and better understand the disease of Alzheimer’s concerning ourselves and our loved ones.

My dad, Jacob Moses Green, was born on March 17th, 1930 in Savannah, Georgia, and he endured many hardships of living under the Jim Crow Era. He went into the army as a young man and after surviving it, he moved with his family [as part of The Great Migration of many African Americans during that time] migrating from the south to the north, for better opportunities. The move was not only about survival but it was to live in a place where his family could thrive. I am a  direct descendant and benefactor from that decision. As his daughter and a recipient of his efforts, I was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1955. In his pursuit of becoming a jazz musician.  He studied music and became a prominent musician having played with many other musicians of  the Post Harlem Renaissance era in the clubs all over Harlem, New York. Jacob Green played with many notable musicians, one being the legendary jazz drummer from Harlem, Rudolph Lawless, who eventually became a great friend to our family throughout the years. My dad was able to avoid and survive the enormous drug addiction epidemic that plagued Harlem  during this era. Later in life, he attended Armstrong University in Savannah, Georgia,  which was his hometown and became a part of the music department.  During his time there, he consistently performed for the student body, faculty  and for their families, along with playing at his church in Savannah, Georgia.

Both my son and dad BEAT THE ODDS that were AGAINST them.  By pursuing their deepest passion, gifts and hard work, they  found ways to express these gifts to share with the world. The most important personal decision they made in the course of their life,  was giving their lives to JESUS CHRIST!

With this decision, He helped them to NAVIGATE through the storms of their lives  and opened up pathways  to walk out their purposes and to leave a RICH LEGACY for their family and friends, leaving us smiling and GRATEFUL for their lives.  They would often give their testimonies on how Great God is and how you can know Him personally when you seek him and trust him in your journey. All to the GLORY OF GOD!