Kathy Davis: Fading at 62—A Life Reclaimed

My parents became Jehovah’s Witnesses when I was 10. At 12, there was a group of young ones getting baptized, so I went with the crowd. I was a very faithful Witness for 50 years and had been in the last congregation I attended for 22 years.

My first red flag was the Governing Body pushing the vaccine. The second was the change in the generation teaching. The third was the alteration of the songs and the creation of the grey Bible. I gradually began doing deep research and eventually allowed myself to view materials from those who had left the Jehovah’s Witnesses. I was also very irritated with the lack of love. I began to speak up about it, and I was immediately viewed differently—because women aren’t supposed to speak up. Once I decided to leave, I chose to fade rather than disassociate, as I have elderly parents who need my care, and disassociation would complicate my life.

I wrote to the elders in the congregation I had attended and told them I would not be back and did not want to be contacted. There are seven elders; three of them sent me a message saying I would be missed. I also spoke with three very close friends, explained a few things, and told them I was not coming back. Not another soul has checked on me. Within one week, they removed me from Facebook. Although we used to talk several times a week, they no longer speak to me. I’ve seen two congregation members since I left, and they walk by without saying a word. I’m not disfellowshipped or disassociated—I just left.

You’d think they’d be trying to help this “lost sheep,” but no—not a word. So yes, shunning is real. None of my family are Witnesses, so I’ve just poured myself into my family and am working to make new friends—at 62!