Liberty House making transition to new leadership

ALBANY — Silke Deeley’s life had taken an unexpected turn of events when she took the executive director position at Liberty House in 2003. Now it is time to join her husband in retirement.

Deeley will be leaving on June 30, putting the organization under the leadership of social worker Diane Rogers.

Deeley came into the position to lead the domestic violence agency in 2003 when the previous director, Janice Garvey, decided to leave after 18 years. At the time, her husband had retired three years earlier as a police officer in Chicago and she was working for a shelter program in Valdosta.

“I was planning to leave Georgia, but she (Garvey) said, ‘You have to stay here,’” she said.

When it came between staying in Georgia or moving northward, it was decided a warmer climate would be better than shoveling snow.

Deeley has a background in education and later became a licensed clinical counselor. It made the transition to Liberty House a natural one, but not one she necessarily envisioned for herself.

“My intention was not to get a director’s job,” she said. “We are sometimes led by God if not by destiny to places you don’t intend to be.

“It has been a great experience to be here and do this work.”

Coming from Chicago to south Georgia was a bit of a culture shock, but she had people along the way to help her.

“The friendships I formed here are hopefully (ones) I’ll keep for the rest of my life,” she said.

Her husband has already relocated to Henderson, Nev., where she said she hopes to do some form of advocacy while catching up with friends in the area.

Rogers has spent a good deal of time over the last few weeks learning the ropes at Liberty House, and Deeley said she feels confident that the organization is in good hands.

“I think she is going to do a great job,” she said.”I have to pass things on to someone with energetic vision. She is that person.”

Rogers’ tenure will begin as Liberty House expands into a new building for its clients who are seeking shelter. A building was purchased last fall and later received significant damage as a result of the severe storms that ravaged Albany in January.

Now the organization will be going into a period of remodeling and developing a capital campaign.

“She’s got her hands full, but I think it is an exciting opportunity (to complete that project),” Deeley said.

The decision to retire was something Deeley said she was thinking about for some time. Former SOWEGA Council on Aging Executive Director Kay Hind, who is in her mid 80s and who retired in March, is a good friend of Deeley, and she envies that kind of longevity.

Even so, working that long was not in the cards for her.

“My family is not in Georgia, and there are things I want to do,” Deeley said. “I came to the conclusion that it is time. My husband has been retired since 2000, and I (want to) do some things I have intended to do.”

Deeley has family in Germany, so there may be some international travel in her future. She also has four children and six grandchildren to spend more time with, including a granddaughter who has just earned a full ride to Mercer University.

“We are kind of replacing the population, in one way,” Deeley said of the timing of her granddaughter’s arrival in Georgia.

In her time as the executive director, Deeley has seen hundreds go through Liberty House’s shelter. She has not seen the long-term results in every case, but she has experienced the value of advocating for another.

“Advocating for those who don’t have a voice, and are marginalized (is valuable),” she said. “We all need someone in our corner.

“When you are a victim of domestic violence, the community and society at large (lessens the value) of those in these relationships.”

The mission to make domestic abuse victims feel valued again is something Deeley said everyone can fight for. The cause has developed in the time she started in 2003, when Liberty House had fewer than five people covering 22 counties.

Since then, more shelters opening throughout Georgia have allowed Liberty House to contract to 17 counties. There are now 16 staff members working to develop relationships with clients through nine different programs.

“I’m very proud of that,” Deeley said. “Our advocates are amazing people, (including) one who has been here more than 25 years. When we can grow (clients) to see what they can do, I like to think every day that we are saving someone’s life.”

When Deeley leaves, Rogers will not be the only one leading the cause to fight for domestic abuse victims in Southwest Georgia.

“The state as a whole has great advocacy and that’s good,” she said. “We have had lots of people who work in this who are not afraid of challenges. You have to be fearless when flying the the face of opposition.”

Once Rogers is able to stand on her own and lead Liberty House into the future, Deeley is expecting a bright road ahead. She said she hopes Liberty House will develop new programs and increase space that would accommodate more than just women and children.

“We want to be able to house men and to do that in a capacity that is safe for everyone,” Deeley said. “(We also want) the ability to house pets, and programs for teens in our shelter.”

The teen programming could be particularly critical, since the organization’s resources are currently geared more toward young children. At the new building, the teen program will hopefully devote some attention to teen dating violence.

“We will have a more specific program for (dating violence),” Deeley said.

There may also be a green house and tennis court at the new facility, which opens up opportunities for outlets that would allow clients to focus on something outside of their troubles at home and take a step toward making things better for them in the long run.

“I see all sorts of things that are possible moving forward,” Deeley said.

Talking to a young lady whose mother was assisted by Liberty House, giving Christmas and birthday gifts to children for the first time — or any number of things many take for granted — makes the work worthwhile, even with the sad stories someone working with domestic violence victims come across.

“This work is just really satisfying when you think you are making a difference in someone’s life,” she said.

While she is leaving Albany, she will not forget about the city.

“I look forward to reading about Albany on my computer because the city of Albany is doing amazing things, and I think Liberty House will go along with them,” Deeley said.