Mildred Bender

Birth Date & City January 29, 1920 Birmingham, Alabama Parents Lizzie Mullins & Birl Hayes Her Life & Legacy Mildred was born at Hillman Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama where she lived until her early 20s. In 1944 she moved to Fort Worth, Texas and became a barber in 1950. As a barber in one of the most popular shops in downtown Fort Worth, she was a trailblazer. She went to barber conventions and was always one of a handful of women there. She held her own and made a good living doing so. She stressed being a woman, a well put together woman whose clothes, shoes, hair, and make up had to be the best. She loved her family and took care of them, she always wanted the best for them. She taught them the importance of self-sufficiency as women, entrepreneurship and having our own, without depending on others. Mildred enjoyed talking to her family and friends and just enjoying life. She cut hair until her health faded. She fell asleep in the arms of her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. She is preceded in death by her son, Joseph Jones; brother, Eddie Hall and sisters, Frankie Bender and Mary Patrick. Those left to cherish her memories are one son, Leon Thomas, a host of relatives and friends in Texas, Cincinnati, Ohio and Birmingham, Alabama.