Marquita Britton broke barriers by becoming the first AFrican American woman elected to a countywide office and the first AFrican American and African American woman to serve as Clerk of Court in Dillon County.
Marquita, the daughter of Dean and Valerie Britton, and the granddaughter of Betty Whittle and the Late Chief Deputy Andrew “Deboy” Graves, was reared in Dillon, South Carolina; where notably, she is a proud 2001 graduate of Dillon High School. Academically, Marquita matriculated and pursued higher education at both Morris College in Sumter, SC, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts and Liberty University, obtaining her Master of Arts Degree in Applied Psychology with a Specialization in Developmental Psychology. Professionally, Marquita served as a Probation Officer with the Department of Juvenile Justice – a role that began her career in Criminal Justice; thus, highlighting her commitment to Justice and Community well-being. Additionally, with emphasis on Marquita’s career, let’s include her decade of valuable experience as a General Sessions Clerk within the office of Clerk of Court. It was here that she honed her skills in public service and community engagement in her beloved Dillon County. A woman of deep faith and community spirit, Marquita finds inspiration in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who Strengthens me.” Marquita can be seen actively contributing to her community through her involvement and affiliation which includes: The Dillon-Marion Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, The Order of Eastern Bright Star of the Valley #217, Daughters #177 and lastly, The Business and Professional Women’s Club of Dillon County. Marquita serves faithfully in many capacities at her church, the historic Manning Baptist Church in Dillon County. Her zeal to assist and support is a reflection not only of her upbringing but a demonstration of her passion for uplifting and empowering those around her.
Marquita can now add to her biography that she is the First African American Elected Clerk of Court, and the First African American Woman elected to a County Wide Position in Dillon, South Carolina!
When asked how it felt to know that she had accomplished something that no other African American person had accomplished before in our county, she said, “I felt I achieved a milestone in our county. I had immense pride and a feeling of validation of societal doubts or limitations placed on African American women. I had a responsibility to pave the way for others and a little bit of pressure to represent my community well. I recognized the historical significance of achievement in the face of systematic barriers. Knowing with this accomplishment I could inspire other women to pursue similar goals would be a powerful motivator.”
She would like to be remembered in history “by making a difference and a change. Showing others that in life if you want something in life you will go that extra mile to achieve anything you put your mind to. I stepped out on faith and believed in God. The time and effort I put into making history will never go unnoticed and will go down in history.”
BLACK HISTORY MONTH TRAILBLAZER: Marquita Britton Broke Barriers By Becoming First African American Woman Elected to A Countywide Office
