Resilience. Truth. Leadership.

Welcome to my story, a story not just of public service, but of perseverance, purpose, and power under pressure. I’m Mayor Priscilla Everette-Oates, a woman of deep faith, servant leadership, and an unshakable commitment to the historic town of Princeville, North Carolina, the oldest town in America chartered by formerly enslaved Africans.

In 2013, everything I stood for was put to the test.

The Storm That Tried to Silence Me

What began as a normal day quickly turned into a nightmare. I was blindsided by a press release from the State of North Carolina accusing me, your twice-elected mayor, of seventeen felony counts of embezzlement.

The claim? That I had misused just $5,200 over three years.
The threat? A possible 75-year prison sentence.

Let that sink in.

The system that should have protected public servants like me was now weaponized against me. The Local Government Commission (LGC), NC State Auditor's Office, and the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) pursued these charges with intensity not because of truth, but because of political motives.

But I knew the truth. And more importantly, God knew the truth.

A Fight for My Name and My Freedom

My legal dream team stood firmly by my side, and after months of waiting, the tide began to turn. The Honorable Judge W. Osmond Smith III issued a court order that changed everything. The LGC had long refused to release documents that would prove my innocence. Now they were required to hand them over.

And what did the evidence show?
That I was innocent all along.

This wasn’t about justice; it was a deliberate attempt to destroy my life and disrupt the progress we were making in Princeville. But they underestimated one thing: my resilience.

As my attorney, Charles Bonner, so accurately described it: this was “a political assassination.”
And yet by faith, by truth, by grace I survived.

A Legacy of Leadership

This experience wasn’t just a personal attack. It was a mirror held up to a system that too often punishes those who dare to lead boldly and independently.

But I didn’t allow it to define me.
I let it refine me.

I’ve emerged from that storm more determined than ever to serve, to speak, and to stand up for what’s right. My mission now is to help others navigate the storms of public life and injustice with courage and clarity.

I remain proud to have led Princeville with integrity, vision, and heart. I remain committed to restoration over revenge, purpose over politics, and truth over fear.

Let’s Stay Connected

If you’re here, I believe you care about justice, community, and what real leadership looks like. I’d love to stay in touch, share more of my story, and hear yours.

📩 Contact Me
📚 Read My Upcoming Book
🎤 Book Me to Speak
📰 Follow My Work in the Community

“They meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.”
(Genesis 50:20)

Thank you for visiting,
Priscilla Oates Ministries