Hoping to escape her ex-husband, Candy Johnson moved to Brandon to start anew.
By CANDY JOHNSON
Published October 1, 2004
My name is Candy Johnson. I live in Brandon and have lived in the area for almost three years. I selected Brandon because it is a small town, has a small town feel to it and community activities keep my children busy and happy. My boyfriend also makes his home here and that is an important draw for me. But, the events that happened in my life previously also had an influence on my moving here.
I decided to write this column because I want to have people know that happened to me. It is important to me to give them hope when they are at the bottom of the pit in their life.
I married young, partly because I became pregnant and partly because of my faith. I had a strict Southern Baptist upbringing. I married thinking that I was doing as my mother and as God would want me to do.
After 10 years of trying to make a bad situation good, I gave up. I could not deal with the abuse from my husband anymore. I decided that, despite his threats, I could not stay any longer.
During the months leading up to my divorce I had fallen in love with a wonderful man. This man, Jamey, gave me the strength and courage to leave my husband.
Our happiness was short-lived. It was just shy of six months when my ex moved within 20 miles of my new home. He tried to make people believe that he had changed. I tried to believe that he was telling the truth, but my gut felt something wasn't right.
The last act of violence that I had to endure from my ex is when he killed Jamey. My children and I fell apart. My whole family fell apart. Fear consumed us all until one by one all of my family disowned me. My faith was lost. I had nowhere to turn, no one to count on until I met my boyfriend, whom I hope to marry someday; he helped renew my faith.
At his trial, my ex-husband was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was sent to a psychiatric hospital. His last threat was that when he got out he was coming for me. I ran blind with fear for a long time. I investigated laws that could help protect the children and me when my ex was released. To my surprise there are very few laws that protect the victims of domestic violence.
I wanted to live in a place where my children could grow up in the normal ways that children do. Brandon has given us good friends, a house of our own and a new hope for the future.
I have a good job with a boss who is unbelievable. Friends here are also compassionate and caring, not judgmental or nitpicking. My kids call it home.
I have written a book about my life, Tainted Love. It is my hope that in sharing my story, I will help others make better decisions. I would like it to inspire people to never lose faith, especially in your darkest of hours, for this is when you need it most.
