Debbie Ham is a mother who lost her daughter to domestic violence, and as October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, she's sharing her story.
Devin Ham Ivey, 22, died in June 2011 at the hands of her husband.
"I never knew anything about domestic violence until this happened to my daughter," Debbie said.
Rodney Ivey choked and killed Devin and dumped her body on a road in Florence County.
"He treated my daughter like a piece of trash," Debbie said, "and then when he was sentenced, he didn't have any remorse at all."
In June 2012, he was convicted of killing Devin and sentenced to life in prison.
Since Devin's death, Debbie has learned more about domestic violence and spent a lot of time talking with battered women, in a state that ranks second in the country for the number of women killed by men.
"I don't want my daughter to have died in vain," she said. "I'm going to make sure my daughter doesn't die in vain."
Tuesday, Debbie will travel to Columbia to take part in a domestic violence ceremony.
Life size silhouettes will be used to represent each of the people who died last year from domestic violence, including her daughter Devin.
A 5K/15K walk/run will be held in Florence at Trinity Presbyterian Church on Ebenezer Road at 9 a.m. Saturday, October 13 in memory of Devin and other domestic violence victims. Registration begins at 8 a.m.
Click here for information about the walk.
