Photograph of a plaque noting the people who helped build the Central Fire Station in 1929 on the red brick building in Lufkin, Texas. The rear end of a red van is visible to the left.

Photograph of several cars parked in front of a red brick building in Lufkin, Texas.

Photograph of cars parked on the street outside the Pines Theater in Lufkin, Texas. The marquee reads: "Welcome to Downtown", and there are buildings on either side of the theater.

Photograph of the exterior of a red brick building at the First Baptist Church in Lufkin, Texas.

Photograph of a monument to veterans and a statue of a soldier outside the Angelina County courthouse in Lufkin, Texas.

Photograph of a memorial for veterans of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, in front of the Angelina County courthouse in Lufkin, Texas.

Photograph of several cars parked on the street outside a store called Morning Glory in Lufkin, Texas.

Photograph of a mural painted on the wall of a building in Lufkin, Texas. It depicts a woman's face, a train at a depot, men standing around wagons, an African American man holding a saw, and men in uniform playing instruments. There are benches on the sidewalk in front of a hedge, and a lamp is visible in the foreground.

Photograph of a truck waiting at a light at Frank Avenue in Lufkin, Texas. There are cars in the background, and the city of Lufkin Parks and Recreation Department is visible to the right.

Photograph of a red fire van outside the red brick Central Fire Station in Lufkin, Texas. Another truck is parked in the garage, to the right.

Ms. Benham was born and raised in Lufkin, Texas. She went to segregated schools in Lufkin before participating in integration during the 1969-1970 school year. She graduated high school and went to college at the University of North Texas. She then became a flight attendant and worked in retail. She returned to Lufkin and worked with her mother, Bettie Kennedy, in the community. In the interview, Ms. Benham describes segregation in Lufkin, experiences with discrimination, problems during integration, discrimination she experienced at UNT, her work as a flight attendant, her time spent in retail, and the work of both her and her mother in the community.