Mildred Faye Sanford

Mildred Faye Allen Sanford was born on November 23, 1937, in Iago, TX, to the late Joe Mason and Callie Allen. She was the second child from this union. Mildred was affectionately known to many as Faye, Mom, Millie, Nano, Nanny, and Auntie.

Mildred graduated at the age of 16 from Lincoln High School in Port Arthur, Texas. She dreamed of joining the Air Force as a Nurse but was too young to sign the enlistment papers. Instead, she followed in her mother's footsteps and became a certified cosmetologist. She used her earnings to attend Lamar University, where she obtained a Licensed Vocational Nurse certificate. By chance, she discovered the Registered Nursing (RN) program, which appealed to her ambition and curiosity. During this era, Lamar did not accept black students into their nursing program. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Registered Professional Nursing from Prairie View A&M on a scholarship from Lamar University.

Mildred’s career as a nurse and groundbreaker spanned over 40 years. She worked in various nursing positions, including Director of Nursing, Med-Surgical, Oncology, Nurse Manager, Nurse Educator, and Emergency room nurse. She worked at St. Mary’s Hospital and John Sealy Hospital. It was at John Sealy Hospital where she provided her talents to helping individuals struggling with addiction at the inaugural onsite Methadone clinic.

Mildred fulfilled a dream when she was hired at Wilford Hall Medical Center on Lackland Air Force Base, where she expanded her knowledge of Critical and Cardiac Care. From there, she moved to Port Arthur, Texas, where she worked at the Medical Unit inside Texaco refinery, St. Mary’s, and Park Place Hospitals as an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse and Mid-Jefferson Hospital as a Critical Care/ICU nurse.

But Mildred’s life was not all work; she found time to enjoy the moments! Her hobbies included songwriting and singing in a band with friends, writing poetry, knitting, crocheting, drawing, painting, and sewing. She expressed her enthusiasm for makeup as a Merle Norman and Mark Kay consultant.

Another one of Mildred’s hobbies was playing cards. If anyone had lost a card game or two to her, you know she was a card shark who enjoyed Bid Whist, Gin Rummy, and Spades. And If they joined her private house parties of Pokeno, Tonk, Pitty-Pat, and poker, there were some who left with lighter wallets.

Mildred loved Cryptograms and crossword puzzles. She enjoyed baking and blending recipes. Her love for her family was paramount, but her love for the Houston Astros was a very close second. She rarely missed a game and charted the player’s stats on her own throughout each season.

Mildred is preceded in death by her daughter, Althea Sanford White; her parents, Joe Mason and Callie Jefferson Allen; and her sister, Nancy Russell.

She is survived by her daughter, Alison Sanford, her son, Alfred Sanford, Jr; her grandchildren, Torrie Slavych and husband Austyn, Jordan Sanford, Alicia Allen; two great-grandchildren; her siblings, David Allen and Cynthia Allen and her nephew, Edwin “Punkin” Lewis and wife Sophia; and a multitude of family members and friends.

The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks and deep gratitude for all expressions of sympathy and acts of kindness shown during this time of bereavement.

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