The lives of women and men lost to domestic violence were honored in Columbia, S.C. on Oct. 5. Attorney General Alan Wilson led the annual Silent Witness Domestic Violence ceremony, the 24th year it has been held.
Family members held life-sized silhouettes either red or blue; one for each of the 24 women and 15 men claimed by domestic violence in the previous year. There was one more silhouette to represent potential unknown victims.
Alice Harris said she survived more than three years in a physically abusive marriage.
MORE: From Behind Closed Doors: Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence
“In the beginning, it was magical,” she said. “The first time my ex-husband slapped me, he and I had gone to a local auto parts store to get some parts for his car. I ran into a male, high school classmate. Immediately introduced my husband and the three of us stood, making small talk until we left. I got in the car, buckled my seatbelt, turned to face my husband, was met with a backhand slap across the face and I was told I had not been given permission to speak to another man.”
Furthermore, she said she considered suicide as a way out before her abuser killed her. Now she cringes at the thought that suicide was part of an escape plan.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 42.3% of South Carolina women and 29.2% of South Carolinian men experience intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner sexual violence and/or intimate partner stalking in their lifetimes.
In 2011, South Carolina had the highest rate in the country of women murdered by men, more than double the national average. In 2012, it had the second highest rate. South Carolina has ranked in the top ten states for the rate of femicide in each of the past 17 years.
In Georgia, NCADV data shows 37.4% of women and 30.4% of men experience intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence and/or stalking in their lifetimes. In 2017, there were 149 domestic violence-related fatalities. Seventy-percent of those involved firearms. In 2017, Georgia had the 10th highest rate in the US of women murdered by men.
Wilson read the list of names, which included two women from Aiken County; Thembi Chalmers, 43 years old and Jacquline Stevens, 29 years old.
MORE: From Behind Closed Doors: Domestic Violence Survivor Tells Her Story
Then, Wilson said he hates that this ceremony must be held each year, but it’s for a purpose.
“I love that when we do this ceremony, because it reminds us of our commitment to each other as a community,” he said. “While this ceremony brought us here, it’s love that’s going to set us free.”
The full list of victims:
Thembi Chalmers
43 years old
Aiken County
Jacquline Stevens
29 years old
Aiken County
Breanna Fludd
29 years old
Calhoun County
Shanta Singleton
37 years old
Calhoun County
Christopher Brown
32 years old
Charleston County
Pamela Coleman
58 years old
Charleston County
Olivia Goff
35 years old
Charleston County
Jennifer Grant
36 years old
Charleston County
Audrey Heyward
55 years old
Charleston County
Alicia Campos Garcia
37 years old
Cherokee County
Kodie Patrick
24 years old
Darlington County
Henry Williamson
50 years old
Dillon County
Christopher Curbeam
49 years old
Fairfield County
Melissa McClain
43 years old
Fairfield County
Jonathan Heiden
30 years old
Florence County
Antwanaza Cason
20 years old
Greenville County
Twana McDaniel
42 years old
Greenville County
Desmond Parks
29 years old
Greenville County
Kamesha Craig
21 years old
Greenwood County
John Logan
25 years old
Greenwood County
Timothy Bellamy
22 years old
Horry County
Brian Brady
47 years old
Horry County
Naomi Jean Morris
84 years old
Horry County
Gregory Rice
46 years old
Horry County
Lisa McCartha
46 years old
Lexington County
Walter Payne, Jr.
69 years old
Lexington County
Patricia Smerdell
53 years old
Lexington County
Maisha Burch
45 years old
Marion County
Kent Marcengill
52 years old
Oconee County
Heather Brown
28 years old
Orangeburg County
John Hubbard
33 years old
Orangeburg County
David Jones
34 years old
Orangeburg County
Kiara Richbow
28 years old
Richland County
Kornell Willis
29 years old
Richland County
Jasper Brian
62 years old
Spartanburg County
Ebony Canty
35 years old
Sumter County
Sharekia Johnson
42 years old
York County
Miranda Sturgill-Nivens
29 years old
York County
Julie Taylor
48 years old
York County
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
