Nine purple benches were placed at different locations around Owensboro on Wednesday to honor the life of Erica Owen, a 25-year-old nurse who was allegedly killed last July through an act of domestic violence.
On July 3, 2018, Owen was killed inside of her home. Her former boyfriend Matt Adams was charged with her murder. The purple benches are memorials dedicated to Owen’s life, but they also bring awareness to the issue of domestic violence.
Most of the benches have been placed at locations that were important to Owen, including four that were placed on Daviess County Public School properties.
“These purple benches — bringing awareness to the issue of domestic violence — are located at the schools Erica attended: Highland Elementary School, Daviess County Middle School and Daviess County High School,” DCPS said in a statement. “Another bench has been placed outside the nurses’ station at Burns Elementary School, where Erica completed some of her nursing practicum hours, and where her mother Lisa is a third-grade teacher.”
Martina Billings, Owen’s aunt, said each of the benches was manufactured through donated plastic bottle caps and monetary donations that came from people, businesses and ministries across the community.
“People would walk up to me at work and say, ‘Here’s $20 for the benches,’” Billings said. “The benches were $250 each and they took 200 pounds of plastic to produce.”
In a heartfelt Facebook post written by Billings on Tuesday, she said the benches could serve many purposes for the people who live in and visit Owensboro.
“It is our hope that the person that sits on this bench will be able to rest, reflect, catch their breath, maybe even fall in love or gather the courage to make a life-changing, life-saving decision and get help to leave their domestic violence situation,” she wrote.
Initially, members of Owen’s family thought they’d only get enough plastic caps for two benches and were pleasantly surprised to learn they could have nine made with the donations they’d received. With enough leftover plastic to fill a 16-by-18 foot trailer, Billings hopes they receive enough donations to have another set of benches made in the future.
“We can do nine or 10 the next time, and that’d be great,” she said. “I’ve had so many people reach out to me already and ask, ‘Where did you get your benches made? We’d love to have some made for [other victims].’ The benches are a continuation of support for others.”
The benches were manufactured through Evansville-based Green Tree Plastics and their ABC Promise Partnership program, which focuses specifically on educating children about caring for the earth and green living. The program requires the benches to serve as a learning experience for children.
Billings said their ABC program fit perfectly into the vision Owen’s family had for the benches, as it opens a door to educating children at an early age about the dangers and realities of domestic violence.
“If a child asks, ‘What’s that purple bench about?’ Someone may say, ‘That was a lady who was killed through domestic violence. Do you know what domestic violence is?’” Billings said. “This could teach children about domestic violence at a young age, and it’s so important for them to understand it when they’re young.”
Oasis made a post regarding a bench placed at their facility as well, saying it would be used for many years to come by the 500-plus clients that come through their shelter due to domestic violence.
“A special thank you to the family of Erica Owen for donating this beautiful bench in memory of your daughter Erica. May these victims be able to sit, reflect, learn, grow and heal on this bench,” they wrote. “On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.”
Owen’s father, Rece, asked those in the community to take a picture while sitting on the benches and post the pictures on social media.
“Thanks for all the bottle cap donations,” he wrote on Facebook. “More benches to come. Please let us know if you have any location ideas.”
According to Billings, the benches are a way for Owen’s life to “keep shining.”
“The world is definitely a darker place without her smile in it. As a nurse, she had such a big impact and took care of so many patients,” Billings said. “So often they’ll come up to us and say, ‘Erica was my nurse,’ and that makes you feel really proud.”
Aside from the DCPS properties and Oasis, benches honoring Owen’s life can be found at Owensboro Community and Technical College, Hampton Inn South (on Salem Drive) and RiverPark Center.
Anyone wishing to donate should make checks out to Erica Owen Memorial Fund. Donations for a second set of benches can be mailed to:
Martina Billings
245 Rearden Lane
Hawesville, Ky 42348
