YWCA President Retires After 27 Years Fighting Oklahoma’s Domestic Violence Crisis

After nearly three decades of service, the president of the YWCA called it a career. Jan Peery is retiring after changing the way Oklahoma combats domestic violence.   

Peery said her work was brand new in the 1980s and 1990s, and domestic violence was often ignored and denied. Peery’s work opened safe places for women and saved many lives. She said solutions come from reality people accept. 

“It is violent,” Peery said. “It is a crime [...] we need to have the support.”  

Peery didn’t choose to lead for twenty-seven years, the YWCA chose her.   

“I never dreamt of being the CEO of a nonprofit,” Peery said. “Domestic violence is a public safety issue. It’s one of the primary responsibilities of the government.”  

Peery inspired new laws and built places to keep women safe.   

“It’s the family that you see get out and begin a new life, and a safe life,” Peery said. 

She helped save countless lives including Christy Limestall.   

“She’s so wonderful,” Limestall said. “It’s nice to know you’re safe.” 

Limestall experienced abuse from multiple partners.   

“That almost cost me my life,” Limestall said. 

The YWCA protected Limestall and Peery listened to Limestall’s story. 

“I remember driving in and the gates closing behind me and thinking for the first time in several years, ‘I am safe,’” Limestall said. “It makes all the difference in the work not to be blamed or shamed or criticized, just to be accepted.”  

Limestall’s husband David saw the restored joy in his wife’s eyes and the healing thanks to the YWCA’s services. 

“I’m amazed,” David Limestall said. “I hate what she went through, but I love the mission and where she’s going today.”  

In 2011, Peery’s late son Chad Peery was attacked by a group of men with a history of domestic violence. 

“He was assaulted and left a quadriplegic,” Peery said. “And one had only been out of jail a matter of a few weeks.”  

Peery said the work must go on to strengthen the penalties for domestic abuse.  

“It’s a felony to hit your dog,” Limestall said. “It’s a misdemeanor to hit your wife.”   

Limestall said Peery left the YWCA better than she found it.   

“Jan is awesome,” Limestall said. 

Peery said she believes solutions start with recognition and empathy for the people who survived domestic violence.   

“We have to have those critical conversations,” Peery said. “I will walk away knowing I've been a part of making a difference in the community. It has been a journey." 

A reminder to anyone experiencing domestic violence, Oklahoma’s Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence safe line is 1-800-522-SAFE (7233).