Mildred "Millie" Bailey of Lenhartsville, recently retired after 44 years as a waitress at the New Smithville Diner, 2299 Golden Key Road, Weisenberg Township.

Bailey, who was raised in the Maxatawny area of Berks County, graduated from Kutztown High School.

She began working at the diner in the fall of 1969, when she was 25.

"I started working when I was 16 selling baby clothes at Renninger's Antiques and Farmers Market, Kutztown," she said.

After that, she worked for a blouse factory in Kutztown and an underwear factory in Hamburg before waitressing at the diner.

Over the years, Bailey has worked for Sarah Boltz, Ann Bailey, Terry Campbell, (when the diner was know as Terry's Place) Pipeline Petroleum Inc., Jim from Egypt, and T.J. Elrefaei, the current owner of the New Smithville Diner.

Elrefaei spoke with The Press Nov. 8 at Bailey's retirement party.

"In all the seven years she has worked for me, she never called off except one time, and she was never late," he said.

Bailey joking said she had two alarms on her night table.

"I have always enjoyed being with people, waiting on people," Bailey said. "I enjoyed my job. Every day brought new adventures.

"Now that I am retiring, I plan on enjoying leisure living and life, as long as I stay healthy.

Bailey and her husband, Glenn, who have been married since 1962 have two sons, Justin, of Lenhartsville, and Jeffrey, of Kutztown, and a daughter, Jessica, of Lenhartsville.

They are the proud grandparents of Blake, Haley, Logan and Mason.