The event served as a solemn tribute to those lost to domestic violence across North Carolina in the past year and aimed to serve as a beacon of hope for those still fighting to break free.
Among those in attendance was Kimberly Carver, a domestic violence survivor who now advocates for others through her organization, the Purple Trail Foundation.
"It actually started when I was 5," Carver said. "I witnessed my father being shot to death in my face. So, that was a truth. That was my truth. That was my journey of accepting where domestic violence really started."
Carver later found herself in an abusive relationship.
"I have two daughters that look up to me, and for far too long, I stayed in the mess that I had no business staying in because I knew I deserved better," she said.
She spoke about the challenges many survivors face when trying to leave abusive situations.
"It's so many obstacles and things that encamped a person's mind or heart, financial status, the children, the family motive that holds that narrative right in the palm of an offender's hand," Carver said. "There's so many reasons why I stayed and went back and forth."
Her message to others: "You deserve to live. You are worthy, you are valuable, you are important, and your voice matters just like mine."
The vigil included the reading of names of those who died from domestic violence in the past year. This year, four of the five Cumberland County victims remembered were men.
Chief District Court Judge Toni King told ABC11 that it serves as a stark reminder that domestic violence is an issue that affects people of all genders.
"I don't think that people realize that men go through this and the severity of the abuse that men endure," she said. "You know, people think that because a man is so strong, but we do have a lot of men out here that won't strike back, and they take the abuse."
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King also emphasized the scope of the problem in Cumberland County.
"I think a lot of times it's easier for us to think it's someone else's problem or it doesn't happen here," she said, and she added that it's eye-opening to see how often they see these cases in the Cumberland County court system. "On typical days, I can grant or have at least 50 domestic violence restraining orders filed."
This year's keynote address was delivered by author and entrepreneur Michelle McKenney. Retired Chief District Court Judge Beth Keever read the names of those lost to domestic violence.
Many local agencies were represented at the vigil, including law enforcement, elected leaders, and advocacy organizations. Representatives from the Army Community Service at Fort Bragg typically attend as well, but King said they were unable to participate this year because of the ongoing government shutdown.
Resources for those experiencing domestic violence were shared at the event and are available year-round. Services include:
- Army Community Services - 910-396-8262, myarmybenefits.us.army.mil
- CARE Family Violence Program - Crisis Line: 910-677-2532, cumberlandcountync.gov
- Cumberland County District Attorney's Office - 910-475-3010, ncdistrictattorney.org
- Cumberland County Family Court - 910-475-3012, nccourts.gov
- Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Victim Assistance - 910-677-5454, ccsonc.org
- Fayetteville Police Department Victim Assistance - 910-433-1849, fayettevillenc.gov
- Hope Mills Police Department - 910-425-4103, townofhopemills.com
- Legal Aid of North Carolina, Fayetteville Chapter - 910-483-0400, legalaidnc.org
- Safe-Link Domestic Violence Assistance Program - 910-475-3000 (Room 340 at the courthouse)
- Spring Lake Police Department - 910-436-0350, townofspringlake.com
- The Phoenix Center (24-Hour Hotline) - 910-485-7273, rapecrisisonline.org
- U.S. Army Family Advocacy Program (24-Hour Hotline) - 910-584-4267, armymwr.com