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ORAL HISTORY

Fred C. Millender

Fred’s Best Seafood

Fred Millender has been working on the bay since he was a boy. He was born in Carrabelle, Florida, in 1929. His family saw opportunity in Eastpoint and moved there in 1942. At one time, the Millender family had three seafood houses along the bay. When Fred managed his own place, he had twenty-nine boats harvesting oysters. The seafood industry was booming in Eastpoint. Among other problems, hurricanes have taken their toll on the area. Fred is a survivor, though. He has found a way to keep Fred’s Best Seafood afloat. Today his daughter Susan operates the seafood house. But Fred still has a hand in the business. He can often be found at his colorful roadside stand, chatting with a friend or smoking fillets of mullet for local fishermen. Fred is as colorful as the hand painted signs that flank his little market. Filled with fascinating stories and songs to share, Fred is a stranger to no one and friend to all.

Mr. Millender passed away on March 17, 2014, at the age of 87.