Shawonna Gaither's memories of that September day are clear. She was removed from class and driven to a crowded crime scene, where she tried to wrap her brain around the fact that the motionless, sheet-draped body stretched on the ground was her mother, Cynthia. The realization that her youngest siblings had all been inside the vehicle when her stepfather plowed over their mother—twice—in a fit of rage only added to the horror. His motive was unclear, as were the reasons why Cynthia had endured his drug addiction and violent behavior for so long.
"Mom had a father, brothers, protectors, but she kept a lot of things to herself," Gaither said. "If her Dad had known what was going on, things might have been a whole lot different. She worried that she couldn't take nine kids back to live with her parents, but they would have never said no."
After the tragedy, all nine children did move in with their grandparents, Charles and Amma, who provided the love and structure needed to help them heal.
"Back then, people were not as informed about trauma as they are today," Gaither said. "Some of the children received counseling, but it was just for a few sessions." What happened to her mother was the main force behind her career choice. After high school, Gaither earned a bachelor's degree in human services from Mercer University and worked for a time at one of the rehab centers her stepfather had attended years earlier. "It was there that I started learning the intricacies of trauma," she said, "and started working my way through my own."
Gaither is now pursuing a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling and has served as the program coordinator for Rockdale County's DUI court for the past 11 years. Her position there, along with education and experience, have all shaped the way she views addiction's impact on her family.
"What I've learned is that sometimes our moral compass makes us think about our decisions," Gaither said, "but substance abuse affects your brain chemistry and lowers your inhibitions. The addiction breaks the threads that would normally hold you back and keep you from doing bad things you might want to do. Some people never lose that moral compass, but many do. I also learned that you cannot love addiction away."
In her role as program coordinator, Gaither has helped many people work through the impact of substance abuse by connecting them with therapy, accountability and other resources needed to get their lives back on track after repeat DUI convictions. The award-winning program boasts a high success rate.
"Around 90% of our graduates don't reoffend," she said, pointing to graduation days as her favorite part of the job. "I get super excited about graduations when I get to celebrate with clients for all their hard work. It reminds me of why I do what I do." Gaither encourages others going through difficult times to unashamedly seek available assistance. "Sometimes, you can't find an outlet for your anger and frustration, and problems come when you stay in it," she said. "You can't always help what happens to you in life, but you can choose what to do with it. You cannot sit in your hurt. You have to move forward."
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