Mother continues advocacy 20 years after Liza Warner's death

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- October 1st begins Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It also marks 20 years since a local woman named Liza Ellen Warner was murdered by her husband.

Warner was just 29 when her husband shot her at close range before he died by suicide. Since her daughter’s death, Martha Lasher-Warner has dedicated her life to helping others experiencing domestic violence.

She’s a housing specialist at Unity House in Troy. Lasher-Warner said her work has been a driving factor in moving forward, and that Liza’s memory is a huge inspiration to her work.

"It was so rewarding for me to be able to help other women who were in domestic violence relationships and needed help. It gave me a lot of comfort," Lasher-Warner said.

Lasher-Warner turned 81 in July. She is involved in several organizations outside of Unity House.

"I believe that [Liza] keeps me healthy, which is a great thing, and that she works with me and she keeps me going--physically--able to continue," Lasher-Warner said.

Lasher-Warner heads the Friends and Family of Liza Ellen Warner Association. It supports the Liza Fund at Unity House, which helps domestic violence survivors buy essential items and pay security deposits on housing.

Saturday, October 5 is the big annual event to support the Liza Fund. It's a memorial gala for Liza as well as Nikki Hart, who also was killed in a domestic violence relationship. The gala is at the Franklin Terrace ballroom at 6:00 P.M., and John Gray will emcee the event.