Cedar Creek resident proud of political work
More than 50 friends and family members gathered at the Cedar Creek Senior Living facility Wednesday afternoon to wish Milly Bufford a happy 90th birthday. The longtime Madera resident expressed complete surprise at the outpouring and said, smiling in jest, “If I had known all of this was going to happen, I wouldn’t have come.”
Bufford is known in Madera for a number of things, not the least of which was her marriage to Madera High School English teacher, the late Ben Bufford.
Milly and Ben were born in Desha, Ark., and grew up together there. When World War II broke out, Ben went into the service and was sent to the South Pacific. For her part, Milly went to San Diego and became one of America’s “Rosie the Riveters” assembling aircraft for Douglas Aircraft.
When the war was over, Ben and Milly returned to Arkansas, where they were married. Using the G.I. Bill, Ben earned a bachelor’s degree at Arkansas State and a master’s at the University of Tennessee. Meanwhile, Milly managed their home and before long became a mother...