MOULTRIE, Ga. — More than a hundred Colquitt County residents who have been affected directly or indirectly by domestic violence gathered at the courthouse annex Tuesday night in a candlelight vigil to honor the memory of many in the community who died as a result of such abuse.

As well, speakers for the event uplifted efforts to confront the violence in Moultrie and Colquitt County.

“We need to step up to the plate on this issue,” said City Councilwoman Susie Magwood Thomas, citing unreported cases of domestic abuse.

Thomas said the silence of good people must be overcome.

She referenced an old saying about “sticks and stones” saying that it should be rephrased to say, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will break my heart” in regard to verbal abuse.

Bob Swadel, president of Serenity House, the community’s domestic abuse shelter, noted that last year 15.5 million children witnessed domestic violence in the United States.

Misty Bridges, a domestic violence survivor, told of her five-year struggle during which she put up a front, all the while dying inside until she took advantage of the offerings of Serenity House.

“They helped me regain my self-esteem, taught me how to live on my own and how to manage my money. Thank God for Serenity House,” she said.

The mother of three said, “We need to get the word out about Serenity House,” and what it can mean for those who are victims.

Swadel said every night there are five or six women and as many children at Serenity House seeking shelter out of harm’s way.

Bridges said even after she left the violent situation, she was depressed, second guessing herself. She said for a long time she masked her fear. Initially she said she thought she could change her abuser.

“But now, thanks to Serenity House, I can live again,” she added.

Colquitt County Deputy Sgt. Carly Davis, a Serenity board member, told the audience that such violence impacts those even beyond the immediate victims. She said officers who respond to the many domestic violence calls often see horrible things.

“And they carry that with them for a long, long time. Domestic violence affects the whole community,” she said.

Cindy Fulmer, Serenity shelter manager, said combating domestic violence is a never-ending challenge.

The names of those of the community who died as a result of such violence as far back as 1987 were read by Fulmer, and members of the audience, many of them who were close to these victims, came up to the front of the room and took a lighted candle in their memory.

Those remembered were: 1987, Eve Dickerson; 1998, Lisa Watson; 2000, Kim Nunez; 2001, Jennifer Martin; 2002 Classie Patella; 2003, Rochelle Harris and Howard Hunter; 2004, Jerrell Hill, Martha Fritts, Melissa Moore and Odell Davis; 2005, Cegi Hall and Lee Pitts; 2007, Vickie McBurrows; 2010, Carbaja Duran, Quentin Grimsley and Bakari McDugal; 2012, Stanley Alderman; 2013, Virginia Gonzalez and Dustin Carroll; 2015 Devin Devone Smith.