Anthony White’s colleagues crowded around him in a hallway outside the hospital cafeteria on Wednesday for the unveiling of his latest mural, which was covered by white paper.
His murals have been a holiday tradition for more than 30 years at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, where White is a maintenance mechanic.
Nearing retirement, he swore last year would be his last. But here he was with his wife, Erica, a registered nurse, tearing away paper for the first of several murals they uncovered in the halls.
They revealed a scene inspired by the classic TV show “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” There was Charlie Brown, surrounded by carolers and a tree, while multicolored lights twinkled. A three-dimensional Snoopy’s doghouse extended from the bottom.
Colleagues applauded and snapped pictures.
White has loved art his whole life. He calls himself a big kid who likes color and cartoons. He draws inspiration and builds his works over many months, assembling them in the halls, generally at night, when traffic is low.
White started at Sentara 38 years ago in housekeeping, then moved to maintenance. He started creating murals for a hospital-wide contest he believes around 1990. The more he did, the more he wanted to do.
“I started to brighten up the area so that when they come through here to go to their rooms, they’ll see something that could impact them and kind of change their mood,” he said Wednesday.
“It makes me feel good when I’m drawing,” he said. “It kind of brings peace. And then when I impact someone’s life, it makes it more enjoyable.”
Erica and Anthony met at the hospital. She, their son and grandchild have helped him put his work up before it is eventually unveiled.
“We all have something that God gifts us with, and that’s his,” she said. “And that’s what he gives back with. That’s how he encourages.”
She’s amazed at what he does every year.
“It’s just like his 38 years here at Sentara,” she said. “He’s dedicated. He’s committed to what he sets forth to doing. And I think that speaks a lot about a person because you don’t always find that in an individual.”
They’ve been married 25 years.
“That was the best thing that ever happened,” Anthony White said, referring to meeting his wife. “That was a blessing.”
After the unveiling, his colleagues chatted about how his work makes them feel.
“You just brighten up,” Lateisha Williams, an administration assistant, said.
Kristy Rosa, a community health worker, said it makes the holidays warmer.
“It definitely does bring calm to the storm.”
White had told his colleagues these would be his last murals.
After the unveiling, White said he plans to retire next year.
“I might be here through Christmas,” he said.
Will there be another mural before he goes?
“It might sneak in there,” he said, smiling.
