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Mildred Horton Sneed was born March 5, 1940 at Brackenridge Hospital, Austin, Texas. She was the fourth child of Forris Horton Sr., and Velma Walker. As a little girl she always made good grades and was recognized for her achievements. In high school she proudly played the French horn in the Anderson High School (AHS) marching band and was also an honor roll student. She graduated from AHS, and continued her educational endeavors at Houston Tillotson University. While in high school Mildred met Kennie Sneed, and they were married August 3,1958. From this union four children were born: Kennie Jr, Karmen, Keith, and Karlton. Mildred was a devoted member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Austin, TX, and lived a life deeply grounded in her Christian faith and values. She was known for her compassion, love, and strong spirit, bringing warmth and affability into every space she entered. Mildred held a deep love for her family and friends, reasuring relationships with those around her. She found immense joy in uplifting others, always willing to offer steadfast support to those in need, reassurance to the discouraged, and strength to the distraught. She was an enthusiastic donor to those in need and gave freely to Mercy Ships, Doctors Without Borders, Feed the Children, and was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for her generous donations to the United Negro College Fund. Mildred was destined to be an entrepreneur. In the late 1960s, around the age of 29, she opened her own African American retail store located in the heart of East Austin proudly named African Imports. She sold a variety of traditional African attire to men and women in the community and the Austin area. In 1974 she obtained her real estate license and started working for a local well-established real estate firm owned by realtor/home builder Walter Carrington. She was the only female African American at the company and received “salesman of the month” numerous times for her hard work and was rewarded with vacation trips, prestigious dinners, and other awards. In 1978, after a lot of studying and perseverance, Mildred obtained her real estate broker’s license from the Texas Real Estate Commission. A pioneer in her field, she co-founded Sneed Realtors with Kennie Sneed Sr., which was one of the first African American real estate companies in Austin. The real estate business was located in the heart of Northeast Austin on Manor Rd. She thrived on helping families in the African American community as well as other communities purchase homes, land and commercial property. She worked with various mortgage companies, law firms, title companies, appraisers, and banks, vigorously pursuing the best price and financing for her client. If one mortgage or title company wouldn’t make the loan or close the deal, she would move on to a different vendor. For over 50 years as a Texas realtor, Mildred served her community with dedication, helping countless families achieve the American dream of homeownership in Austin, Houston, Dallas and other cities across Texas. Her knowledge, expertise, support, commitment, and love for her community has left an indelible impression that will always be remembered and adored. In continuing to serve her community, on Saturday, July 21, 1984, Mildred Sneed took the oath of office to become the Vice President of Tourism for the Capital City Chamber of Commerce in Austin, Texas, administered by Judge Richard Scott. This chamber was dedicated to furthering the cause of Black economic development in East Austin. This involved going before the city council to request funds to be utilized throughout the community. Her commitment and drive left a lasting impact on the city, and her dedication to service became a powerful legacy that will be remembered for generations. Mildred’s true love was her family. She loved and cherished spending time with them especially during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, which was her favorite time of the year. She would consistently go above and beyond to cook and decorate her home to make it special for the family. She was also an avid card and board game player, proudly holding the title of Gin Rummy Champion and Monopoly Champion among her seven grandchildren, creating cherished memories with each game they played together. In her personal life, Mildred found joy in simple pleasures, like watching her favorite period dramas such as Pride and Prejudice and Downton Abbey, which brought her great comfort and delight. Her favorite movie was The Godfather. She was an ardent reader and loved talking about politics. She was especially proud of our first black President, Barack Obama. In her eyes, he could do no wrong. While working as a volunteer for the Democratic Party making and answering calls for his campaign; she was stunned and speechless when she answered an incoming call and it was her hero, President Obama! Ms. Mildred Horton Sneed was called home to be with our LORD on Monday, November 4th, 2024, she was preceded in death by her parents Forris Horton Sr., and Velma Walker Horton. Siblings, Forris Horton, Jr., and Maurice “Jack” Horton. She is survived by her children, Kennie Sneed Jr. (Marilyn), Humble, Texas; Karmen Sneed, Atlanta, Georgia; Keith Sneed (Sheila), Denton, Texas; and Karlton Sneed (Brenda), Manor, Texas; her grandchildren, Kaymen Sneed, Kameron Sneed (Misty), Larry Jacobs Jr., Kennie Sneed III, Kole Sneed, Katharine Sneed, Konrad Sneed, and great-grandson Khai Sneed. Mildred’s siblings: Gladys Horton Williams, John Horton, Welma Horton, Sister-in-Law Donnie Horton, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends, all of whom will carry her memory close in their hearts and strive to honor her legacy in their own lives. Mildred lived a life true to the Christian principles she held dear. Her loved ones will forever remember her as a source of comfort and inspiration. Her generous heart, enduring strength, and unwavering faith left a lasting mark on all who knew her. She will forever live in our hearts and her compassionate and loving spirit will continue to inspire us all. She was a beloved Sister, Mother, Mother-in-Law, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, and devoted friend to many.

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Mildred Horton Sneed

March 5, 1940 - November 4, 2024