“I have one son. I tried to instill in him to be a positive man, look forward for his future, get on his journey and don’t look back. No matter what kind of falls you have, you keep on moving. I learned that from personal experience. You never stop going until you finish the end. Never give up. When you go through something, it’s always an experience. Once you experience something and you go through it again, you know how to handle it. I went through a divorce two years ago, and here I am single and free. I made it. I’m creating my own fashion to get myself out there. Right now, I’m branding me. Right now, it’s all about Tammie.” – Tammie Butler of Irondale.

Tammie Butler is teaching her son to keep going and learn from his mistakes. (Tamika Moore / People of Alabama)

Butler works in accounting, but her passion is hair. She created 12 afro wigs of different colors and sizes for herself and loves to wear them.

“It makes me feel like a woman of power. There’s nothing I can’t handle. When I put my afro wig on, I feel like, ‘Hey, I got this,’” she said.

She wishes that her mother, who passed away in December, was here to see them.

Tammie Butler wishes her mother was around to see her fulfilling her passion. (Tamika Moore / People of Alabama)

“She didn’t live to see me make my wigs. As the days go on, I know she would want me to live and do the things that she instilled in me. She would want me to accomplish those things and not give up because she is not here. I know if she were here, she would be very proud of me,” she said.

These are the faces and stories of people from all walks of life who call Alabama home. People of Alabama is a Red Clay Media and Alabama NewsCenter partnership.