October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Remember My Name

As part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, several Remember My Name projects happened during October. The Remember My Name Clothesline Project was on display in Union County for the first two weeks of the month in front of United Community Bank Branch on Brackett's Way. In Towns County, The Clothesline Project was displayed in the City of Hiawassee Park during the third week of the month. Each t-shirt on the clothesline Please take a moment to remember the people behind the numbers and to truly be aware of each domestic violence victim as a person. Each one a person with dreams, hopes & people that loved them. These are their names: FATALITIES FROM 2005 (beginning with 8/15)

August 2005 Alma Camancho, 29, Abuser shot Alma and then himself. Beverly Shields, 70, Husband shot Beverly then himself. Chad Griffin, 15, Father shot Chad & committed suicide. Parents divorcing. Martha Mena, 24, Husband shot Martha and then himself. Susann Ray, 26, Susann separated from husband 7 months; disappeared 8/05; body found 2/06; husband charged with her murder. Sharon Main, 62, Ex-boyfriend shot Sharon and her girlfriend; friend survived.

September 2005 Emily Horne, 37, Murder/suicide. Levi Moss, 48, Levi was stabbed by girlfriend; previous violence reported. Charlene Brown, 56, Boyfriend shot Charlene then himself. 2001 DV charges for assaulting his wife; Charges reduced to simple battery with probation & anger management class. Daphne Foster, 34, Separated from husband. He shot Daphne three times as she ran to the neighbors for help. Roger Cox, 58, Roger shot by girlfriend; "on-going domestic disputes" reported. Charlie Eskew, 41, (female) Husband stabbed Charlie then himself. He survived injury but committed suicide in jail.

October 2005 Chrystal Harris, 25 Chrystal was stabbed nine times by ex-boyfriend. Kasi Peek, 44, Kasi was separated from husband. He was suspect in her murder & also a suspect in murder of girlfriend & a friend 9 years earlier. Doris Jones, 61, Murder/suicide by husband. Windell Williams, 36, Exboyfriend fatally stabbed Windell and her father. Ralph Graham, 64, Father of Windell Williams; stabbed by Windell's boyfriend. Suzanne Brookins, 44, Estranged husband shot Suzanne and her daughter. depicts the name of a domestic violence homicide victim in Georgia over the past 12 months. This year, there are 69 names.

The North Enotah Task Force on Domestic Violence hosted two Remember My Name ceremonies incorporating the names from the Clothesline Project. The ceremonies took place in each county at the location of the memorial stone for victims of domestic violence. In Union County, the stone is located in TPO in place plus "no contact" bond conditions. Samantha Giles, 14, Samantha was shot by mother's estranged husband. Shawntell Barnes, 27, Shawntell was stabbed and her body found in lake. Husband charged; history of DV. Natasha Brown-Jones, Natasha had ended relationship w/husband. History of violence aggravated assault from September with threats to kill her. Her body found by police; son at home. Leslie Adams, Leslie presumed dead; still missing as of 6/06. Evidence indicates boyfriend killed her. She disappeared the day TPO issued and he had violated the court order 16 times.

November 2005 Deidre Miller, 29, Abuser chased Deidre and her child in car, causing her to crash; then he shot her. Child survived. Netha Frazier, 42, Netha was shot, along with her mom who survived, by father. His actions believed to be caused by aging/medication problems. Dee Dee Golden, 35, Dee Dee was strangled to death by husband.

December 2005 Monique Wyatt, Boyfriend fatally shot Monique and her 8- year old son. Her uncle was also shot and survived. Washington, 31, Jakoby Thomas, 8 Shot by mother's boyfriend. Candy Johns, 31, Candy was beaten to death by husband in front of children; abuser then set house on fire. Stanley Harris, 45, Stanley was stabbed by girlfriend during argument. Angela Green, 36, Angela separated from husband; history of DV and 3 TPO's.

FATALITIES FROM 2006 (ending 8/12)

January 2006 Gabrielle Pierre-Louis, 4, Father pistol-whipped mother who survived, then shot three children. Previous simple battery charges reported. Xavier Pierre-Louis, 6, Malakai Pierre-Louis, 8 Antoine Tarver, 25, Antoine killed by girlfriend who hit him in head with a bottle. Gunther Young, 7, Wife ended relationship with abuser. Family concerned about his violent behavior and drug use. He suffocated two children front of the Civic Center; and, in Towns County, the memorial stone is in the City of Hiawassee Park.

Young Harris College Leadership Students will also host a Candlelight Vigil for the women, children and men who lost their lives due to domestic violence. This will follow regular chapel services on campus on Wednesday, October 25th.

As Domestic Violence Awareness Month draws to a close, we encourage you to remember that this crime of Ryker Young, 4, then shot self. Rachael Harris, 24, Friends reported abuse by boyfriend who killed Rachael and beat 4 year-old son, tying him to chair. Son survived. Abuser committed suicide. Tracy Pate, 31, Tracy had ended relationship with husband. Her body found at home by a co-worker.

February 2006 Carrie Luscius, 15, Carrie was fatally stabbed by step-father who then hung himself. Wanda Faust, 31, Wanda was stabbed to death with a pocket knife by boyfriend. Cynthia Kiser, 44, Cynthia packing suitcases to leave when husband shot and killed her and then himself. Unidentified female, Shot while running away from abuser who then shot himself.

March 2006 Wendy McCormick, 30, Wendy was shot to death by husband. Tenisha Johnson, 25, Abuser shot Tenisha and her friend. Child also injured and survived. Unidentified male Friend of Tenisha Johnson. Lisa Dawson, 48, Lisa ended 3- year marriage. History of abuse included 2004 Kenneth Sands aggravated assault. Husband stalked her then fatally stabbed her and her friend.

April 2006 Anasa Williams, 33, Anasa and her mother were shot by boyfriend. Her mom was holding 8 day-old baby when killed. 11 yr-old child ran for help. Fredia Butler, 35, Previous DV calls and assault charges against abuser. Russell Ray, 63, Russell was fatally shot; wife charged with murder. Jill Davis, 40, Husband shot Jill multiple times, killing her. He shot himself some time later. Steven Harley, Steven was killed by his wife.

May 2006 Berna Ellington, 31, Husband bludgeoned Berna and their two children to death. Christian Ellington, 2, Cameron Ellington, 2. Tina Craven, 37, Tina's husband fatally shot Tina, his son and a friend. He then set house on fire. Zachary Moore, 16; Katrina Wood, 37.

June 2006 abuse happens daily in communities across our State and across our nation. It affects all of us directly or indirectly. Join in the efforts to prevent family abuse and violence. For more information, call S.A.F.E. at 706-379-1901.

S.A.F.E. is the State certified domestic violence and sexual assault program serving Towns and Union Counties with partial funding received from the Georgia Department of Human Resources. Keishia Mapp, 17, Boyfriend charged with Keishia's murder. Tai Morgan, 27, Charges dropped against ex-boyfriend; he was out of state. Annie Potts, 51, Husband shot Annie and then himself. Silecia Darlington, 21, Boyfriend shot Silecia and then took her to hospital where she died.

July 2006 Jennifer Smith, 41, Jennifer trying to relocate; husband shot her. Carolyn Johnson, Carolyn was shot by ex-boyfriend in front of 3 children. Prior law enforcement intervention. He committed suicide. Trang Le, 30 (female) Trang had ended relationship with boyfriend. He shot her and then committed suicide. Unidentified female, murder/suicide by husband. Sherika Eagle, 25, Sherika filed battery charges in June. No referrals were made to Victim Assistance or a domestic violence shelter program at that time. Husband shot her and then himself.

August 2006 Dennis Simmons, 40, wife charged with Dennis' murder. Amanda Irwin, 25, Boyfriend shot Amanda then himself. He was in critical condition following the shooting. DV calls reported in the past.

There were over 15 domestic violence incidents with near fatalities during this same period of time. As we mourn those listed who have lost their lives, let us share the joy and hope of those who have survived.