Meet Della Mendenhall — Co-Owner, Product Developer, Webmaster & Social Media Manager.
Della has spent nearly her entire life at Gillespie Florists. She and her brother James got their start in the shop at just 5 and 6 years old, earning 50¢ an hour filling water tubes and stuffing statements. She officially joined the payroll at 16 and proudly represents the fourth generation of the Gillespie family. Over the years, she’s had the rare privilege of working alongside five generations — from her grandma Bette, to her parents and siblings, and now her nephew.
Her favorite flower is the white carnation, loved for its soft, ruffled petals that remind her of dove feathers. What Della treasures most about her work is the people — both customers and coworkers. From celebrating life’s happiest moments to offering comfort during the hardest ones, she believes flowers hold meaning in every chapter of life… which is exactly why our motto is #FlowersForLife. She also says the talented team she works with makes every day special — though she admits the dogs that “clock in” at the shop might be her favorite coworkers.
Della especially enjoys welcoming first-time visitors and showing them our 500-square-foot walk-in cooler, where they can hand-select from thousands of fresh stems. She has a deep passion for weddings and events, loving the transformation of empty spaces into rooms filled with color, texture, and fragrance. As a designer, her heart is especially drawn to sympathy work, where she finds purpose in creating pieces that help grieving families feel supported and seen — a calling made even more meaningful after the recent loss of her own mother.
One of her most memorable moments happened as a teenager at our former West Washington St. location. She watched as the staff gently cared for a Vietnam veteran with a brain injury who believed the shop was a bank. They lovingly kept track of his “deposits” and helped him make “withdrawals” when he asked. That experience forever shaped her perspective, showing her that a neighborhood florist is more than a store — it’s a place of kindness, trust, and community.
Della looks forward to designing during major holidays like Valentine’s Day, Prom, and Mother’s Day, when the shop is buzzing with laughter and teamwork. Her favorite arrangement on our website is “Vamped,” a bold prom design she created herself. Outside the shop, she enjoys time with family, gardening, canning, camping, kayaking, and fishing.
Della’s gentle spirit and dedication to service are a beautiful reflection of our family’s legacy, and we’re so grateful she’s at the heart of Gillespie Florists.
Click the Names below to learn more about our staff!
