Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa, 92.9 WTUG, Praise 93.3, 105.1 The Block, and the Tuscaloosa Thread are proud to present the 2022 Black History Makers of Alabama supported by Sealy Furniture Outlet, Twelve25 Sports Bar & Entertainment Venue, and Red Oak Credit Union.

The Yellowhammer State is filled with great African American leaders from the past, present, and future. We thank our West Alabama community partners, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Delta Phi Lambda Chapter, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Eta Xi Omega Chapter for their continued support.

Dorcas Britford is a Black History Maker

"Black History in Alabama is both beautiful and ugly. When teaching our history, we cannot afford to leave out the ugly. To keep the ugly from repeating, we must teach our history in the most thorough way possible. No matter how much it hurts." -Dorcas Britford

Dorcas Britford was born Dorcas Cortez Lyles to Frank and Bernice Lyles on July 3, 1983, in Demopolis, Al. She is the middle of five children. Her family moved to Tuscaloosa when she was 3 years old and she was raised on the west side of Tuscaloosa for most of her childhood. Dorcas is a product of the Tuscaloosa City Schools. After graduating from Central High School in 2001, she continued her education at Stillman College where she earned her Bachelors in Art in 2006.

Britford has also earned her M.A. in Journalism from Full Sail University in 2012. Dorcas is a teacher, a professional photographer, and an entertainer. She is the co-owner of Gazelle Productions Portrait Studio with her husband, Kelvin Britford. Dorcas has also started a community group called “The Village” that focuses on re-establishing community respect and the involvement of “the village” when raising a family.

Dorcas developed her love for photography at Stillman College. She loves capturing the beauty and seeing the joy others get from seeing their beauty in a portrait. After years of on-location and event photography, Dorcas and her husband decided it was time for her to open a studio of her own. The goal is to provide professional photography, at an affordable price, to everyone. Gazelle Productions Portrait Studio officially opened on September 4, 2021.

Dorcas has a heart for people. She believes that when one has a problem, we all have a problem. Hearing about the senseless deaths of innocent children in her city made her realize one thing: No matter how well you raise your children, you cannot always protect them from the evil in the world. This is why “The Village” was started.

Britford believes that if she, and others like her, can reach and support more parents in raising their children, she can better guarantee the safety of her own children. She prays “The Village” group will grow and gradually change the mentality and the culture of our community.

Currently, she is a middle school teacher in the Tuscaloosa City School System. Dorcas is the wife of Kelvin Britford. They have 3 daughters (Jordan Lyles, Keara Britford, and Arron Britford)

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