Melba Mebane never envisioned retiring from the beloved department store where she dedicated 74 years of her life, but it all changed when her daily commute became an insurmountable ordeal.
“When I entered the building, I placed my car keys on the table, glanced at my son, and simply declared, ‘I’m calling it quits,'” Mebane fondly recollects.
Her workplace, the Tyler, Texas branch of Dillard’s, was a mere 15-minute drive from her residence. However, unpredictable traffic patterns could easily double the travel time—an inconvenience that the soon-to-be 91-year-old Mebane could no longer tolerate.
Just last month, she bid farewell to her role as a sales associate at Dillard’s, marking the end of a remarkable career that spanned more than seven decades.
Mebane embarked on her journey as an “elevator girl” at the Mayer & Schmidt department store back in 1949 when she was a youthful 17, part of a work-study program at Tyler High School. In 1956, Dillard’s acquired the store, leading to her seamless transition.
Over the years, she transitioned from the men’s clothing department to the cosmetics counter, where she would eventually close out her storied career.
Mebane recounts an intriguing twist in her career path: “There were these gift baskets that one of the girls just could not sell,” she shares. “They asked me to give it a try, so I stepped out from behind the counter into the aisle and engaged customers about the baskets… I managed to sell every single one. That’s when they decided that’s where I belonged.”
For Mebane, her position at Dillard’s was always about more than just earning a paycheck.
As a single working mother, it evolved into a “second life” for both her and her son, Terry Mebane. He describes it as, “The Dillards, along with all her colleagues, became an extended family for us.”
Whenever the retail chain’s founder, William T. Dillard, paid a visit to the store accompanied by his children, Mebane would step in to assist with looking after his daughter, Drue Dillard Matheny, who now holds the role of executive vice president at Dillard’s. Mebane fondly recalls taking a younger Matheny for popcorn treats and leisurely strolls through the mall’s shop windows.
The duo, who share a history spanning nearly 65 years, had a heartwarming reunion at Mebane’s retirement celebration in June.
Terry, aged 60, holds cherished memories of those times when he would hang out in the store while his mother wrapped up her shifts. Mebane was known for her unwavering commitment, regularly putting in a minimum of 40 hours each week, usually from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and sometimes extending her hours until 9 p.m. when the store closed.
“There were occasions when I’d ask my grandfather to take me to the store around 7 p.m. after we had dinner together so I could roam around the mall and ride back home with her after her shift,” Terry reminisces.
For 74 years, she adhered to the same morning routine before heading to work: waking up at 6 a.m., brewing a pot of coffee, preparing a swift breakfast—often sausage and biscuits—then attending to errands before reaching Dillard’s promptly at 9 a.m., all to secure her favorite parking spot.
“I relished going to work every single day,” Mebane reflects, adding that she never missed a workday unless she was genuinely unwell. “If you find joy in what you do, why not continue doing it?”
Her invaluable advice for those seeking a long and fulfilling career is to avoid choosing a job solely for its monetary rewards, as “money can let you down,” Mebane cautions. Instead, she emphasizes the significance of discovering something you excel at and working alongside people you genuinely enjoy.
Throughout her tenure at Dillard’s, Mebane encountered numerous opportunities to step into a managerial role, yet she consistently declined these offers. “Nobody enjoys management, because it involves making difficult decisions,” she explains. “I cherished my friendships at work and wanted to maintain them, so I dedicated myself to becoming the best salesperson I could be.”
Nevertheless, Mebane effectively tailored her job to accommodate her evolving needs and desires over the course of her career, thanks to her close rapport with the Dillard family. According to her, “Investing in your relationships is vital to finding happiness at work.”
When she reached the age of 65, Terry recollects that she was contemplating retirement, but Mr. Dillard, the company’s founder, persuaded her to stay a little longer. “He assured her, ‘You have a job with me for as long as you want one. I will never let you go. What do you want to do?'” he recalls. “She expressed her affection for every aspect of her job except working evenings and Sundays, and they adjusted her schedule accordingly. That was a game-changer.”
A few years ago, she successfully persuaded her manager to replace the hard linoleum flooring behind the cosmetics counter with plush carpeting, as standing for extended periods had become less comfortable.
Many of Mebane’s former colleagues visit her at the retirement village in Tyler, where she recently relocated, taking her out for meals, movies, or shopping trips. Additionally, she receives frequent phone calls and visits from her four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Terry notes that the women currently employed at the Dillard’s cosmetics counter in Tyler even take turns checking in on Mebane with regular phone calls. For Mebane, these enduring friendships were the cornerstone of what she considers “the best job I ever had” during her time at Dillard’s.
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