The Carolyn Thomas Story & Voices 4 All

On December 5, 2003, Carolyn Thomas and her mother Janice Reeves were attacked by Carolyn’s abusive ex-boyfriend. Carolyn’s abuser shot and killed Janice Reeves, Carolyn’s mother and shot Carolyn in the face with a .44 magnum. He then left Carolyn for dead. Carolyn did not die, she is a survivor. Carolyn has found and is now exercising her purpose of increasing awareness about domestic violence and empowering future victims and survivors of domestic violence. Carolyn Thomas states that “This is the reason why I survived”.

Above, Carolyn Thomas after nearly two years of reconstructive surgeries.

Carolyn has endured 17 months of surgeries and countless trips between her home in Waco and her doctors in Houston, In between, with the help of Dione Jackson, her counselor from Waco's Family Abuse Center, Thomas began building a national reputation as a woman who not only survived a horrific attack from an abusive boyfriend but found the courage to speak out against domestic violence. She has made appearances on Oprah and Larry King Live and appeared in Jet and people magazines speaking out on the behalf of women in turmoil all over. Speaking engagements have taken her all across Texas and beyond and she is planning a charitable foundation, through which she will help other women escape the hell she shared with Terrence Kelly for a decade.

Carolyn has also created the “Voices 4 All Carolyn Thomas Foundation” with the goal of ultimately creating a shelter for domestic violence victims that addresses all the issues that victims use to stay with their abusers. The mission statement of Voices 4 All is:

Mission Statement: "To promote the emotional, physical, and mental well-being of domestic violence victims/survivors on various levels in order to enrich their lives and maximize their independence, including support of programs/organizations dedicated to making positive changes within the domestic violence movement for victims and survivors of domestic violence." 

Until then, Carolyn intends to raise money for the foundation and the shelter through her Web site and speaking engagements. Carolyn hopes to find many friends and supporters of her effort through MySpace. Carolyn will also periodically post blogs about what is going with her and upcoming speaking engagements. Carolyn is looking forward to a brighter day for victims and survivors of domestic violence everywhere. 

You can send Carolyn a friend request or contact her for a speaking engagement at http://www.myspace.com/voices4allcarolynthomas. For more information on Voice 4 All visit Carolyn’s website at www.carolyn-thomas.org.

Above, Carolyn prior to the shooting.