Berkley Center

Gloria Jackson: God has always been with me. He has just taken me to where I needed to go. And I feel like the 25 years I was married with domestic violence, I felt like the people in Egypt that needed to get out, that needed a savior. And I finally, when I turned to the word of God, I think more, maybe, I don't know, maybe it wasn't enough. I was trying to fix things myself. That's when God just took me where I had to go.

So I've been married now 16 years, going on 17 with my current husband and my best friend. And hopefully we're going to get married by the church in May. And my older daughter now has three wonderful children that I love. I knew that was what God had in mind for me. So right now I'm very happy.

And then I went to work at the shelter so I could help other women and I met the sisters. So we hang out and there's some times when we get together and we'll go and have dinner and I'll tell my husband, "I'm sorry, I got to go hang out with my friends, the nuns." And he says, "Okay, hun, I'll be here."

Daniel Sitts: I'm curious what it's been like to work at the battered women's shelter given what you've been through.

Gloria Jackson: Oh my gosh. I have made so many friends, but I can honestly, when I talk to the women, I can honestly tell them, "I've been there. I know how you feel." And sometimes they'll say, "Who do you know? How do you know how I feel?" Well, I know. And I could actually tell them, genuinely tell them. And so there were many that I thought, oh my God, it's like my story all over again.

Daniel Sitts: And what do you think have been some of the biggest lessons that you've learned in your life?

Gloria Jackson: I think my biggest lesson is to trust God because I'm only human and there's only so much I can do physically and now mentally. I just lost my sister in October, but I was able to, because I was retired, I was able to stay with her at the hospital until she gave her last breath. But I had to let God, I had to let her go. But I know that she's in a better place because I know that God is good. And I think that's the biggest lesson I could teach anybody that if you have God on your side, who could be against you?

Daniel Sitts: And what are your hopes for the future?

Gloria Jackson: My hopes for the future is to keep helping and bringing women in. I'm now volunteering at church and we're going to have a retreat in February. And if I can bring…and I've already found several women that have been previous victims of domestic violence. So I'm able to talk to them and continue to be of service to other women through my church at St. Patrick's.

Daniel Sitts: Well, thank you very much.

Gloria Jackson: Thank you very much too, and God bless you all.