Millennium Magazine_7th Ed

142 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine ENTREPRENEURS The most rewarding aspect of Ms. Hastings’ career is meeting every customer who hires her catering business and building relationships with others. Living by the scripture, “I can do all things through Christ,” she applies her self- determined attitude to her business in an effort to bring together gatherings under the universal love of food. Looking toward the future, Ms. Hastings intends to continue her catering business in light of the happiness it brings both her and her customers. In addition, she desires to create a Smith’s Family Cookbook to honor her late mother, as well as create a YouTube channel for cooking instruction. Married to her husband Harry Hastings since July 1974, Ms. Hastings is the proud mother of two sons, Harry III and Daniel. She also has three granddaughters. Ms. Hastings’ brother, Jim Smith, currently runs Smith’s Café in Seaford, Delaware. B orn to parents Evelyn and Arnold Smith, Marilyn Hastings is a renowned caterer and entrepreneur who came from humble beginnings. Raised on an old chicken farm, she witnessed her parents purchase a filling station on Route 9 in Sussex County, Delaware, and turned it into Smith Family Restaurant in 1986. Working at the restaurant in her formative years for a total of 23 years, Ms. Hastings decided to branch out and open her own catering business, now known as Marilyn’s Catering. Ms. Hastings attributes her success to her parents, who showed her the value of hard work and determination. She also thanks her faith in the Lord for instilling in her the will to succeed. The proprietor and head cook of Marilyn’s Catering in Seaford, Delaware, since 2009, Ms. Hastings draws upon her late mother’s Southern style of cooking and utilizes all of her mother’s recipes in her cooking. Ms. Hastings is recognized for her chicken and dumplings meal, as well as her pan-fried chicken. Notably, she has catered for small family gatherings as well as large corporate gatherings of 1,200 people. MARILYN HASTINGS PROPRIETOR, HEAD COOK Marilyn’s Catering Seaford, DE