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ARDMORE-In Ardmore, Alabama — a town with more tractors than traffic lights — there’s a little restaurant that serves up more than just fried chicken and mashed potatoes. On any given day, you’ll find a line out the door for the food — but it’s what happens behind the scenes that truly feeds the spirit.
At Mildred’s, a country buffet beloved by locals and road trippers alike, the steam trays are always full, the cornbread is always warm, and the dining room is always buzzing. Owner Dan Holt says they serve at least 1,000 customers a day. Not bad for a place without a drive-thru.
But this story isn’t really about the food.
It’s about a woman named Patricia Watson, better known as “Red.” She’s been working at Mildred’s since long before Dan bought it in 2015. And while others have come and gone, Red never did. She’s the steady hand behind the busiest buffet line in Holt’s restaurant group — stocking, restocking, and keeping it cleaner than a church pew on Easter Sunday.
Dan says it’s one of the most important jobs in the business — and no one does it better.
Today, when he gathered the staff for what they thought was just another team meeting, Red assumed it would be business as usual. Instead, she was handed the keys to a brand-new 2025 Nissan Rogue — and of course, it was red.
But Red wasn’t the only one being honored. Dan also surprised the entire team with a $10,000 bonus, to be divided by seniority, for them to enjoy during their upcoming vacation — a thank-you for turning a humble buffet into something extraordinary.
Patricia “Red” Watson is a reminder that loyalty still matters… that hard work still gets noticed… and that sometimes, the one quietly filling your plate is the one who deserves the biggest slice of recognition.
Media Release/Blake Williams, TMP
Communication & Research Specialist
Limestone County Economic Development Association
Communication & Research Specialist
Limestone County Economic Development Association
