ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — March marks Women’s History Month, and one local woman is working to turn tragedy into positive change for the community.

In November, Shakeira Rucker died, in what police are calling a domestic violence incident.

Rucker’s estranged husband, charged with her murder, is still awaiting trial.

Now, her sister has started a non-profit to help other women save themselves.

Leonia Thornton is on a mission to make a difference by taking aim at domestic violence across the area.

“This is not just a private matter, it is a public health crisis that demands our urgent attention and action,” said Thornton.

As the founder of the new For My Sister Foundation, she was invited to be the keynote speaker at the Violence Against Women Act Summit and Resource Sharing event. She has a personal connection with the issue, after losing her sister Shakeira Rucker.

“My sister, she was a loving, caring person. I mean, she had the heart of a giant,” said Thornton.

She never imagined that after being reported missing, she would never see her sister again.

“Following her disappearance, there was a six-day search that expanded amoung multiple counties,” said Thornton. “Unfortunately, the search ended with the devastating news that my sister was found lifeless in the storage that belonged to her estranged husband. Those six days feel like the worst six days of my life. All the unanswered questions, the whys the hows the nightmares. Not only for me but for her children who desperately wanted for her to come back.”

The pain of the loss was overwhelming.

“It devastated my family,” said Thornton. “Somebody suddenly just taken away from you without notice, without watering, without any signs but now today .”

But in that pain Thornton found her purpose, not only taking custody of Rucker’s children, but starting the For My Sister Foundation.

“I couldn’t save my sister, but I vow to save someone else’s,” said Thornton.

Through the foundation created in her sister’s honor, she’s working towards creating a safe haven for women to escape abusive and potentially dangerous situations.

“My goal is to build a shelter of 100 beds or better. It is going to encompass wraparound services, strictly for data need. And when I speak about wraparound services, it is going to encompass healing, justice, assistance, all in one support so that victims done have to go to different entities to get services.”

While she raises the funds to make that shelter a reality, she’s focused on connecting those who were in similar situations to her sister to the resources that are out there to help them.

“I want other victims, current victims, survivors, to know that there are resources available,” said Thornton as she hopes to get them the help that Rucker wasn’t able to access in time.

“Now that I reflect on her life and see that she tried to get out and she couldn’t, I want to … my goal is to save someone else,” Thornton said.

She feels motivated to make this a safer place for women, knowing it is what her sister would want.

“Shakeira is smiling down right now,” said Thornton. “She is so happy. She is proud of me. And her kids see it too and they are like, my mom would have wanted this.”