WS Chronicle

BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY 

THE CHRONICLE

A troubled childhood is a common theme with many American youths. For some they are never able to overcome the trauma they endured; for others it motivates them to succeed.  In the case of Latisha R. Stuckey, it propelled her all the way to a master’s degree and to become an author.

On Friday, August 19, at the Enterprise Conference and Banquet Center, Stuckey will officially release her book titled “Cast Down but not Destroyed, Destiny’s Child.”  The book is a collection of letters, Scriptures, poems and memories written to her birth and adoptive parents.

“I initially decided to write the book to give a voice to children who have gone through similar trauma and childhood issues such as myself,” said Stuckey.  “I have really vivid memories to abuse my brothers and I sustained when we were younger and my book chronicles a lot of that from the eyes of a child.”

In the book she recalls her encounters with Child Protective Services from the age of four.  She details the issues her mother was dealing with, of being a young mother of multiple children without the assistance of the father in the home.  She goes on to describe how her mother would leave her and her siblings with others or alone in the home altogether.  They were taken from their mother by the courts and spent time in different homes until her aunt adopted them.

Once being placed with her aunt, she gained the stability she had longed for.

At the age of 14 she had the idea of writing a book. That idea remained with her for the next 20 years, until she sat down and put pen to pad.  The Glenn High School graduate stated from her work with individuals in mental health and substance abuse, it sparked her to finally fulfill her dream of writing the book.

Following her graduation from Glenn, Stuckey has gone on to obtain her B.S. in Human Services from Gardner-Webb University, as well as her Master’s in Human Services, and Marriage and Family Counseling from Liberty University. She wants her book to bring healing to those who have gone through similar issues in their childhood.

The book release will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be open to the public. There will be spoken word and liturgical dance, along with a soloist.