"Doris Bender, former director of the Mobile County Department of Human Resources for 33 years and First Lady of Mobile in 1973, died at her home Friday. 

"She really set the highest standards for public service and had a significant impact on thousands of people in the Mobile area' and throughout the state, said Erin Wheeler, the current director of Mobile County DHR. 

"Miss Bender, a native of Mobile, retired in 1976 as director of what was then called the Mobile County Department of Pensions and Securities, and is now Department of human resources. At the time of her retirement, Miss Bender was supervising the disbursement of more than $11.5 million in aid and an $18.78 million food stamp program to those in need. 

"She was quoted in a 1976 Press Register article as saying about her service as welfare director in her hometown, 'I have loved every minute. Every day was a new day, and brought new challenges.' 

"A 1976 editorial praised Miss Bender for providing leadership 'both administrative and inspirational--that has made the Department of Pensions and Security here a model of both efficiency and service to the community...She carried out his awesome responsibility not only wit practical administrative efficiency but with genuine warmth and compassion.' 

"Miss Bender was born in Mobile and received her elementary and high school education at Visitation Convent here. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alabama and had graduate training in the field of social work at Tulane University and the University of Chicago. 

"She served as director of the Mobile County Department of Human Resources form 1944 through 1976, and has worked in other areas of the state and on the staff of the Alabama Department of Human Resources. 

"She was a member of St. Dominic's parish. "She was the first woman on the admissions committee of the University of South Alabama School of Medicine; the first woman member elected to the board of directors of First Southern Federal Savings and Load Association in Mobile; and the first woman member of the Spring Hill college board of trustees. 

"She was the first president of the Alabama Association of County Directors of Pensions and Securities. She was also a leader in affirmative action, having appointed the first black social worker in a county department of Pensions and Security during her administration in the 1940s. 

"Also during her administration, the first organized volunteer division in a county department of Pensions and Security was started in Mobile County. She was on the committee that developed the Alabama office of volunteerism, an agency of state government, and served on its board of directors. 

"In addition, she had served on a variety of boards, including the Mobile county Chapter of the American Cancer Society, Mobile United, Altus Bank and the Mobile Public Library. She has served as president of the Alabama Conference of Social Work, Alabama Association of County Directors of Human Resources and Mobile business and Professional Woman's Club; as vice president of the American Public Welfare Association; was a faculty member at the University of Montevallo and Spring Hill College, and was a member of the Mobile Junior League. 

"She received numerous honors, including the "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" Papal Medal of Honor bestowed by Pope John Paul II for her strong commitment to service and charity. 

"She is survived by one brother, Dr. Theodore Jackson Bender Jr. of Mobile; nieces, nephews and other relatives. 

"Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday at St. Dominic's Catholic Church at 10 a.m. Interment will be at Magnolia Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home, with rosary at 7 p.m. 

Social Security records give her birth year as 1911, but some family records show 1912.