12/28/2025
Today, Richmond stood still as the devastating news of the passing of Bill Martin made its way through the city. He stood in the gap for so many — helping to connect some of the very most complicated corners of the city through arts, culture, and history. This is why we, like so many others, are heartbroken by this sudden loss.
Bill was an integral part of our origin story as a historic preservation non-profit. He was by our side every step of the way — from serving as the initial fiscal sponsor for The JXN Project, to helping to plan the sesquicentennial celebration for Jackson Ward, to providing research to help answer “Who is Jackson?”, to participating in the groundbreaking ceremony for The JXN Haus, to recognizing the project with The Valentine’s Richmond History Maker Award, to partnering on the kickoff of the Richmond 250 Community Taskforce, to visiting the dislocated site of the Skipwith-Roper Cottage, to serving as a location for our documentary “Declarations of Independence”, to just last week, graciously agreeing to provide artifacts for the reconstructed site as part of The Skipwith-Roper Homecoming. He helped this small start-up organization that began with a historical inquiry when he didn’t have to and for that, we’ll forever remain in deep gratitude for his generosity and curiosity. But most of all, as a friend, he helped to hold us up on one of the hardest days of our lives as we laid our beloved father, August Moon, to rest — he was always there.
He was charming. He was smart. He was giving. He was respected. He was witty. He was dedicated. He was loved. And on behalf of The JXN Project and The Moon Sisters, we would just like to say — Bill, thank you, we will miss you, may you rest well, and we promise to make you proud with Virginia 250.💔🕊️
Sesha Joi Moon, Ph.D.
The JXN Project
Co-Founder and Executive Director
