Dorothy V. Alford

Dorothy Vivian Alford, daughter of the late Henry Mickens and Ethel Julia Grace Sorrell, was born on March 11, 1944 in Baltimore, Maryland. She was one of six children. She had three brothers; James, Daniel and Samuel and two sisters; Ethel and Lorraine. After a brave battle with a lengthy illness, she was granted her angel wings on May 15, 2016. She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior early in life and was baptized at the First Apostolic Faith Church. She was a dedicated member of Christ Deliverance Baptist Church, serving as both a member of the Usher Board and a member of the Inspirational Choir. She received great satisfaction from serving in the church and was held in high regard by her church family. She imparted her Christian values and strong sense of faith to her children. Dorothy received her education at Southern High School in Baltimore City. She attended college at the Community College of Baltimore County. Although she worked in a number of fields, including food service at Turf Valley Country Club and several years at Proctor and Gamble, she discovered her talent for working with children early in life. She dedicated a large part of her career to working with children in the Baltimore City Public School System. She was employed as a teachers’ assistant at Glover Tillman Head Start and Rognel Heights Elementary School. Regardless the path she travelled, it always led her back to children. It was common knowledge that if a child had educational challenges, you should send them to Dotty. Her home and heart were frequently open to children within her family and neighborhood. One of Dorothy’s greatest pleasures in life was being a mother. She had five children; Audie, Renee, Arlisa, Lawanda and Nicole. On August 18, 1977, she married the late Oscar Alford, to whom she was married for 12 years. She was a devoted mother and wife, always prioritizing the needs of her family above her own. She was a constant presence in the lives of her children, never missing a school program or music recital. Her gentle smile, sense of humor, excellent cooking, green thumb, baby soft skin and “Dorothy-isms” brought so much joy to her family and friends. She leaves to celebrate her life: her “one and only son”, Audie Mickens; three daughters, Arlisa Mickens, Lawanda Williams and Nicole Jones; one sister, Ethel McCoy; two sons-in-law, Troy Williams and Trevoron Jones; one daughter-in-love, Evette Thompson-Carey; one sister-in-law, Mamie Mickens; one nephew, Donald Briscoe, whom she helped raise as her own; her caregiver, Denise Knight; eleven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Dorothy V. Alford

March 11, 1944 - May 15, 2016