Author: Mary Ann Worsham

ISBN: 1-933538-62-7

Like most young women, Mary Ann wanted the "quiet life with a loving husband, a white picket fence, and children." She never dreamed her journey would end up filled with such darkness -- workplace sexual harassment, verbal and physical abuse, a near-fatal automobile accident, earthquakes, a fire, alcohol abuse, multiple surgeries and attempted murder committed by her first husband.

In 1982, John and Mary Ann were married. She states that during the five and one-half years they dated John could be emotionally cold and sarcastic, but she had brushed it off -- he was young and would mature. Matthew was born in 1985. In 1986, Mary Ann started a very serious search for her birthparents -- even contacting Oprah (she never received a response even though Ms. Winfrey's show was focusing on birthparent-adoptive child reunions). In 1987, Michael was born.

Seven years into her marriage, John had gotten older but Mary Ann was still waiting for him to mature. John lost his job and they had to sell their home for less than it was worth. The family moved to Virginia. It would be here, in 1993, where Mary Ann discovered the job she had wanted all her life -- working in a funeral home.

As Mary Ann pursued her education and career, the verbal and emotional abuse continued at home. At the same time, Matt (the owner of the funeral home), was emotionally raping her. He was married, the father of three children and a deacon in the local Baptist church, but that didn‘t stop him from making sexual advances. Mary Ann had nowhere to turn. She ended up calling the suicide hotline just to have someone to talk to.

The marriage wasn't working out and Mary Ann asked John for a separation. She figured that he would communicate his feelings and she would know where the marriage was heading. In late 1995, John grabbed an overnight bag and walked out. A few weeks later, he came to pack up his things and moved them out.

At work, Mary Ann met a man named Richard. John found out about Richard during a visitation with the boys. A few weeks later, John came over and played nice-nice. He and Mary Ann talked about fifteen minutes and he left. Later, she would learn that he had been taping their conversation in an effort to gain custody of Matthew and Michael. Over the next few months, John did everything to make Mary Ann's life hell. He even called her boss's wife and reported that his wife and her husband were having an affair. Mary Ann went to speak with John to ask him to stop. He met her at the door with a handgun. In the end, he told her, "If I don't like what is happening in the future with you and the boys, I will kill you."

In 1996, Mary Ann received her degree in funeral service with a 4.0 average. It was a year for changes, but more than just in her career. On July 24, 1996, Mary Ann slept as her estranged husband entered the house and attacked her viciously with a hammer -- beating her about the head and face and stabbing her with a screwdriver. Six months earlier, John had vowed to kill Mary Ann. Now, it appeared he would make good on that promise.

It would take the police a long time to gather all the evidence. On December 5, 1996, the divorce was final and Mary Ann had custody of the boys. John was arrested for the assault on Mary Ann, but he would be out of jail on $25,000.00 bond. The trial was scheduled for February. The verdict would be guilty and 40-years.

But, the story doesn't end there. Recovery is another journey Mary Ann writes about in Scars of Silence. The pictures and her memoirs make this book a valuable tool, but Worsham has also included lists of priceless resources.

I spoke with this remarkable woman. She is a delight and although still suffering the lingering memory problems from the head injuries, she doesn't think of herself as a victim. Richard and Mary Ann are now married.

The above review was contributed by: Sue Vogan, Writer & Author of NCO-No Compassion Observed: To read more of Sue's reviews Click Here