Our team includes community leaders, creative leaders, and family members impacted by COVID-19. Every aspect of the Greater Houston COVID-19 Memorial is managed with the input of those who have either experienced COVID loss or work in the memorialization space.
Mohammed Nasrullah
Mohammed Nasrullah is the president and co-founder of COVID-19 Wall of Memories. He is a retired project manager who worked for decades in NASA’s space program. He is an activist and community leader who cares deeply about bettering the lives of underrepresented and underserved people.
Ruth Nasrullah
Ruth Nasrullah is the secretary/treasurer and co-founder with her husband of COVID-19 Wall of Memories. She is a retired journalist and served as president of the Houston chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists for many years. She has volunteered with many other organizations and causes.
Marcos Lutyens
Marcos Lutyens is a world-renowned artist who brings to the Greater Houston COVID-19 Memorial his expertise and inspiration in reflecting the great changes the COVID pandemic caused to people around the world. Based in Los Angeles, he is married with one son.
Sam Alix
Sam Alix is a native Houstonian. He spent 22 years serving in the U.S. military and deployed to Iraq in 2007 with the Air Force, separating in 2012. Sam obtained his master’s degree in sociology from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and holds numerous certifications to provide behavioral health support. Sam and his wife, Kayla, launched the nonprofit organization CHAMP in 2016, providing peer support and behavioral health support for veterans and their families as well as at-risk communities. He is a proud father and grandfather. Sam practices the philosophy of Agape Love, Nonviolence and Peace in the U.S. and around the world, based on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s teaching.
Elena Padilla
Magdalena (Elena) Padilla was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. She became a resident of Pasadena, Texas in 1990, where she still resides. She works as a legal criminal secretary in downtown Houston. Her mother passed away from COVID-19 on January 23, 2021. She is married and has three adult children (Jazmin, Javier and Yadira), one grandbaby (Oliver) and one on the way (Alejandra).
The Greater Houston COVID-19 Memorial project was initiated and continues to be guided by a group of community members who lost loved ones to COVID-19. Their voices and input are critical to ensuring the memorial reflects their experience and emotions. In addition to Elena, mentioned above, this group includes:
Rayonon Covert
Key Largo, Florida
“I believe it’s important to create a memorial which truly honors the lives of those we’ve lost—a place to both mourn and celebrate their unique contributions to the world.”
Mary Esther Ruiz
Houston, Texas
“The memorial is important because it will serve as a reminder of what occurs when those in authority don’t respond to the crisis. It would have prevented the pain that of us suffered with death of our loved ones.”
Michael Tyler
Houston, Texas
“I lost my hero and role model. I also took good notes.”
Lisa Whitton
Pasadena, Texas
Elena Padilla
Pasadena, Texas
“The memorial has meaning to me because it will bring solace to many people who lost a loved one to be remembered and honored and not be forgotten, because each one of those persons who lost their lives fought as hard as they were able to, but they lost their battle. Leaving a legacy that not only will honor my mother, Aurora Poblano, my love, and support, but many others.
Greater Houston COVID-19 Memorial 