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A Lowndes County family is among three Alabama families honored by the Family Guidance Center at its 36th Annual Family of the Year Awards Program held Nov. 10.

Formed by The Calhoun School graduates and sweethearts, Dale and Mercedes Braxton, the Fort Deposit family was nominated by Laura James-Hunter, family and community partnerships manager with Lowndes County Board of Education Head Start and a worshiper at at Snow Hill Christian Church, where the Braxtons serve as pastor and first lady.

“I felt like they needed that recognition because they do so much for the community,” James-Hunter said. “That family is always busy doing something.”

The couple have been married 45 years and recently celebrated their 50th year milestone since graduating from high school in 1974. The pair serve their community alongside their three three adult children, Recennah, Millicent and Dale Jr.; daughter-in-law Lillian and five grandchildren Ballie, Braylen, Landon, Uriah and Savanna.

Dr. Dale Braxton, Sr. said his family serves their community out of a desire to serve Jesus Christ.

“I know what the Lord says, ‘In as much as you’ve done to the least of these, you’ve done unto me,’” Braxton said. “We have a mandate from the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to do for the least of these and to let our light shine so that men may see. 

“The work that we do is not to glorify Dale Braxton, but it all points to the Savior, who is the creator of the world, the one who is going to come back for the church, not the building, but for us. Therefore, I want to invite [people] and share the love of Christ with everybody.”

As part of the church’s ministry, the Braxtons serve their community through food distribution, community events, teaching, preaching, music and more. Braxton is also the retired Associate/Interim Regional Minister for the Alabama Northwest Florida Region of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ, a patron of the Eastern star Morning Glory Chapter 707, and a board member of Carastar Mental Health and the Greenwood Cemetery Board in Nashville, Tennessee. He also serves on the Black Disciples Endowment Fund in Indianapolis, Indiana and the Christian Services for Church Board.

In the early days of their marriage, the Braxtons supported each other through college, then returned to their hometown to help provide educational excellence to the students of Lowndes County.

“Education is very important to us,” Braxton said. “We believe that the ticket out of poverty is to know the Lord and get a good education. So I believe that every child should have the opportunity to get a very good education.

“They start at home, then from home to school, but the church plays a very important role in educating children. We have a lot of teachers in the church and not only teachers but parents who know how to tutor and teach them how to sew or to cook. I believe the church plays a very important part and, as a pastor, it is my job to involve those who have the skills to help to work with our children so the children will know they are loved.”

Part of that effort involves helping families but providing school supplies, Braxton said. 

“We try to make sure that when there is a camping conference, the children get to go,” Braxton said. “We try to provide the means for them to get to those conferences because education is important.”

And, as a couple enjoying a long and fruitful marriage, the Braxtons strive to serve as an example to other families.

“No marriage is perfect,” Braxton said. “Communication is important and trying to understand each other and be honest with one another. First and foremost, put God first and let the Lord lead you.”

Lowndes County District Judge Adrian Johnson was keynote speaker for the recognition ceremony held at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. The Braxtons were surprised by the recognition, Braxton said.

“Whatever we do is not for accolades or a pat on the back,” Braxton said. “We do it because we’ve been taught to give back from day one. My mom was a single mom and she made sure that whatever we had, we were to give back to the community. So, it is an honor for us to have been chosen, but ultimately our goal is to make sure that we have helped ‘the least of these.’”