Nancy Travis has spent the last 16 years of her life helping others that are going through a tough time in their life get back on their feet.

After serving as executive director for the SABRA Sanctuary, Travis is stepping down.

“I’m going to miss being here, but it has been a wonderful 16 years,” Travis said. “I just want to say thanks for the years that I’ve had here. They’ve been wonderful.”

SABRA Sanctuary is a non-profit organization that helps victims of domestic and sexual violence. It is a shelter that gives victims a place to go and help get their lives back on track.

Travis started working at SABRA in 2000 and took on the role of executive director in 2003 when Jo Ann Bowline retired as director.

“I started here at SABRA in 2000 as a part time victim’s advocate. At the time I had no office, so I had to work out of my house,” Travis said. “But I went to court with the victims and helped them with protection abuse orders and that sort of thing for about two or three years.”

Travis has seen a lot of men, women and children come through SABRA Sanctuary over the years. She recalled one domestic violence victim that came to SABRA from Montgomery. Through the shelter she got her GED, a job and eventually saved up enough money to move back home to her family.

“It’s been a real rewarding situation and a place for me to be,” Travis said. “To me, that is one of our success stories. That is what we want to happen, is that these women, children and even men … that they get out of that abusive situation and go to a life that’s freer, happier and free from abuse.”

Travis said the shelter couldn’t have helped all those people without the staff, which she will miss greatly.

“I have a wonderful shelter staff. They’re the ones that really do most of the work,” she said. “I’ll miss my staff. I’ve been with a lot of them for a long time.”

Travis said she isn’t sure what’s next for her, but she plans to stay in Selma.

“I know I’m going to stay in Selma, and I want to find a job here in Selma that maybe I can help people again, but if not, help the city of Selma because I love doing that,” she said.

Mae Mae Jackson, chairman of the board for SABRA Sanctuary, said Travis will be missed, and the work she has put in over her 16 years is truly appreciated.

“We’ll miss her a lot. I think she has added a great deal to the organization, and I think through her time here it’s grown,” Jackson said. “We’ve added more counties, we’ve taken on more responsibility, and she has been a big asset for that. We’ll miss her. We certainly will.”

Travis said she hopes to see SABRA continue to grow and serve the six counties it provides services for.

“I want this organization to keep going and do the things that they are doing,” Travis said. “I’ve had some great boards and wonderful people to work with. The community has been supportive of SABRA Sanctuary and our fundraisers, and I’m just so glad that I was a part of this organization.“