Melba left an indelible mark on everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. As Terry liked to say, “Everybody in the mall knew her.”
Melba Mebane, 90, ended her remarkable 74-year sales career last month at the Texas department store Dillard’s. What makes her story even more remarkable is that during her long tenure, Melba never missed a single day of work or called in sick.
Melba began her employment with Dillard’s in 1949 as an ‘elevator girl’ at Mayer & Schmidt, a department store that Dillard’s acquired in 1956. According to James Saenz, store manager of Dillard’s in Tyler, “Melba sets the tone for everything, every expectation, and every quality customer service that we look for in a luxury experience.”
Saenz praised Melba for her vital contributions to the group and praised her ability to mentor, instruct and uplift others.
Melba praised her colleagues as “great ladies who love to eat, laugh and cut”, one of whom has been Ginger Wimbs for 33 years. Wimbs respects Melba for her integrity, people skills, and ability to turn a modest sale into a big one.
Terry Mebane, who is currently a financial advisor at Tyler, was only raised by Melba during his job. Terry recalls his childhood at Dillard’s and how his mother’s labor of love changed their lives. Melba quickly moved from the elevator to the menswear section and then to the cosmetics section. Terry remembers her mother’s creative sales strategy, especially when it comes to selling gift baskets.
Because of Melba’s exceptional sales reputation, perfume companies gave her free samples of their wares to help spread awareness about them. Terry affectionately referred to his mother as a “cosmetic smuggler” because she likes to give these samples as gifts.
Over time, Melba developed a devoted following at the store and developed strong ties with executives from the Dillard family. Terry claimed that his mother was the soul of the store and often acted as a buffer when the store was inspected.
Terry found inspiration in Melb’s tireless work ethic. He called her “grinder”, usually the first one in the door, and took as short a lunch break as possible because she didn’t want to miss a chance to make a sale. Thanks to the generosity of the Dillard family, Melba was able to adjust her job to suit her needs as she got older, which proved to be an important asset to the business throughout.
Melba continued to work virtually full-time throughout her 70s and 80s, working four eight-hour days a week. When it rained or snowed in the winter, her son Terry said, “I just took her to work and picked her up so she wouldn’t have to drive in it.”
According to Terry, Melby’s long-term employment was very beneficial to Dillard. “There’s still a generation that would come to the counter looking for it,” he said.
Customers would rather leave if she wasn’t there than accept help from someone else, proving Melby’s lasting influence on patronage.
However, Melba decided it was time to retire at the age of 90 after health issues forced her to take a few weeks off. “Father Time got the best of her,” Terry said. I just turned 90, I don’t drive and most of my friends are gone, she declared. The environment has changed and becomes more transaction oriented. Melba left a lasting impression on everyone she met, even though she was much older than her staff. “Everybody in the mall knew her,” Terry said.
Melby Mebane’s incredible 74-year career is a testament to her unwavering work ethic, passion for customer service, and dedication to her craft. Her commitment to excellence, along with her ability to build connections and inspire others, has left a lasting legacy at Dillard’s. As she enters a well-deserved retirement, her story serves as a reminder of the lasting impact individuals can have when they put their whole selves into work and approach each day with unwavering determination.