A whole neighbourhood of people gathered together to throw a farewell party for their local mailman who had been delivering their post for 35 years.
One of the women in the neighbourhood, Jennifer Brett, shared a lengthy Twitter thread talking about Floyd Martin’s job with the United States Postal Service (USPS), and how his time as a mailman went out with a bang.
Jennifer joined Floyd on one of his final routes the day before he retired, and snapped pictures all the way around.
THREAD: Floyd Martin retires after nearly 35 years as a mailman tomorrow. I went with him on his route today. pic.twitter.com/qZhUVY7Sz8
— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 22, 2019
She explained how the mailman took the postal service test a few years after graduating from high school in 1975, and after some persuasion from the USPS, he left his job at a bank to start his new career.
Jennifer shared pictures of the people on Floyd’s route, who offered kind words and gifts to the retiring man:
Lorraine Wascher was waiting for him today. She's been a stop on his route for more than 20 years. "He always had a smile, always had a wave." pic.twitter.com/v8dD8CVoq9
— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 22, 2019
Lots of the "mail" Floyd picked up today was hand-delivered. "My people are so good to me," he said. "I'm going to miss them." pic.twitter.com/e6Mi8WctZl
— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 22, 2019
"He feeds all the cats," said Peggy Corn, who's been on Floyd's route for decades. "They all know him, and they know that buggy!"
"The dogs, too," Floyd said. "The dogs get Milk Bones." pic.twitter.com/ktZSBxlgfE— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 22, 2019
The postie was so well-loved that one of the children who lived on his mail route even dressed up as him for her school career day.
Speaking of the heartwarming gesture, Floyd said:
I was so flattered. It touched my heart.
Kids on his route love, love, L-O-V-E Mr. Floyd. Little Mae Bullington dressed up as Mr. Floyd on the day her school had career day. "I was so flattered," he said. "It touched my heart." pic.twitter.com/BbeT3AlhHp
— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 22, 2019
Floyd lives in Atlanta with his dog Gigi. He doesn’t have any kids of his own, but Jennifer wrote that he had ‘the 500 houses worth of kids he spends 6+ hours with every day’ on his round.
May 24 marked the mailman’s last day on the job, and to celebrate his years of service many of the houses decorated their postboxes in honour of Floyd.
Jennifer tweeted:
Update! People on Floyd’s route decorated their mailboxes to surprise him on his last day.
I mean they were *all* into it.
I mean they were *all* into it. pic.twitter.com/8nkF8Deg9B
— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 24, 2019
The mailboxes were certainly brilliant, but that wasn’t the only surprise the locals had for Floyd that day, as when his last shift came to an end over 300 people gathered together to throw a party for the beloved USPS worker.
A short video shows Floyd talking about his love for the neighbourhood, saying:
I could have left them a long time ago but I wouldn’t, because I love them.
Here's a short clip of Floyd next to one of the mailboxes decorated in his honor. He could have taken an easier job at the post office over the years but didn't. "I could have left them a long time ago but I wouldn't, because I love them." pic.twitter.com/SOaIf3wBYr
— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 24, 2019
Floyd said tonight’s sendoff was the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for him. His parting words: “Continue to take care of each other, and smile when you think of me.” -30 – pic.twitter.com/OsYgT1PgCp
— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 24, 2019
Floyd hoped to visit Hawaii one day following his retirement, and some of the neighbours set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for his trip.
But, amazingly, after his story was shared far and wide on Twitter, Delta Airlines offered to help the mailman go on his dream vacation.
They tweeted:
A trip to Hawaii is the perfect way to celebrate a wonderful career. We’d love to to take care of Mr. Martin’s flight. Let’s connect on the details in DM.
A trip to Hawaii is the perfect way to celebrate a wonderful career. We’d love to to take care of Mr. Martin’s flight. Let’s connect on the details in DM.
— Delta (@Delta) May 24, 2019
Floyd certainly deserved his brilliant send off – let’s hope he has a great time in Hawaii!
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Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.