Read on Twitter
THREAD: Floyd Martin retires after nearly 35 years as a mailman tomorrow. I went with him on his route today.
He graduated from Marietta High School in 1975 and took the postal service test a few years later. By the time they got in touch he already had a job at a bank, but the USPS offered to double his pay. "I was like, OK when you do want me to start?"
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."
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."
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."
Floyd is a tall, slender, very fit 61. His job involves lots of walking, which keeps him in great shape. But he is done with the heat. In summertime, the mail truck is basically a rolling oven. Last summer, Floyd decided, would be his last.
"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."
"The dogs, too," Floyd said. "The dogs get Milk Bones."
Floyd is the youngest of 4. It was his mom's idea for him to join the USPS. He's sad she's not here to see this send-off. Joyce Hardin's mother is on Floyd's route and said he totes her newspaper to the porch. "Thank you for taking care of mama, after daddy passed," she said.
"This is my friend Jim," Floyd said, introducing Jim Pietrowski. Jim's wife Charlotte recalled when the kids next door were little, they'd wait at the window for Mr. Floyd to roll up. They knew he was good for a lollipop. "When we met Floyd, it was like he was an old friend."
Floyd lives in Atlanta with his dog Gigi. It'll be a little weird to just receive mail and not deliver it anymore. "I'm just going to smile," he said. He doesn't have children, just the 500 houses worth of kids he spends 6+ hours with every day. He hopes to go to Hawaii one day.
Morgan Beatton and River, 18 months, waited for Mr. Floyd today. As always he had treats for their dog, Sage. He said he'll come visit and attend events like Taste of Marietta. "I'll be back," he said. "Y'all are my life."
- 30-
- 30-
Update! People on Floyd's route decorated their mailboxes to surprise him on his last day
I mean they were *all* into it.
Once his very last shift was finally over, the neighborhood had another surprise for Mr. Floyd. 300+ people came to a covered dish block party in his honor.
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."
People stood in line all night for hugs and photos. Floyd's known these guys since they were babies. "Now you guys are as tall as I am!"
Doreen Hipps, 87, has been on his route since the beginning. Her granddaughter Amanda Seals spoke on her behalf tonight. "Dementia has set in, and she doesn't see well anymore, but she still knows Floyd."
There was a huge buffet set up with covered dishes people brought but I don't know if Floyd got a bite to eat or not .. he posed for a zillion photos!
Sarah Bullington organized tonight's sendoff for Floyd and invited him to be a celebrity judge at the Maple Avenue Halloween Parade this Oct. 31. If you've never been .. it's something.
Floyd has seen his people through many of life’s changes. Some good, some bad. They’ve done the same for him. “You were there when I needed you, even if you didn’t know it.”
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 -
Another update! Neighbors have launched an official Go Fund Me to help Mr. Floyd realize his dream of visiting Hawaii one day. https://www.gofundme.com/floyd039s-retirement-dream-hawaii?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fb_co_shareflow_w&fbclid=IwAR2570gelMgu9HMytrpZL_MokiBCd2IxorlmV9IrwmnjNWgB7_NVydzZFrY
Here are some more clips and photos from the party last night. 300+ people came - it was incredible. #MrFloyd
It took forever to #MrFloyd to even get to his own party - people kept stopping him for photos and hugs!
Lots of people took photos with their pets. #MrFloyd is much loved among the canine set, too. He always kept Milk Bones in his mail truck! In this photo, Stella joined her people, the Courtoy family.
So great to see the piece on #MrFloyd on @ABCWorldNews https://www.facebook.com/WorldNewsTonight/videos/739937889741849/UzpfSTE1ODQ1NDUzMzM6MTU1NjM5MDMzNDQ5NzMwMw/
the @washingtonpost picked up the story on #MrFloyd as well. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2019/05/24/mail-carrier-georgia-retired-strangers-across-twitter-celebrated-theyre-sending-him-hawaii/?utm_term=.8c71446ef649
in the @people story about #MrFloyd they referred to me as just "neighbor Jennifer Brett," which I think is great. that's a title to aspire to every day, when you think about it https://people.com/human-interest/more-than-300-neighbors-throw-retirement-block-party-for-beloved-mailman-of-34-years-and-raise-money-for-his-dream-vacation/
Here's the @foxnews piece on #MrFloyd. They identified me as "friend and local journalist Jennifer Brett." I'll take it! https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/georgia-neighborhood-celebrates-mailman
It has been a great day in my great little town. Thanks to all who read and shared the story about #MrFloyd. Here are his parting words. - 30 -
UPDATE! I went to visit #MrFloyd the other day. We talked about some exciting things coming up in the near future - and we talked about the past. Stick with me to the end. (thread)
First: #FloydMartin will be the grand marshal at Marietta’s Independence Day parade. For 35 years he drove a mail truck. Now he’ll ride in a convertible.
The parade steps off about 10 AM on July 4. The staging area is not too far from Park Street Elementary School, where #MrFloyd attended 1-8th grades. The new Park Street opens in 2020. I wonder if they have anyone in mind to cut the ribbon?
#FloydMartin’s school integrated when he was in the 4th grade. “It was a little weird. One guy who turned out to be a really good friend, he looked at me with all sincerity and said, ‘Did you get burned?’ He’d never seen a black person before.”
#MrFloyd graduated from Marietta High School in 1975. He was on the homecoming court, student council, track and field, seniors in action and lots of other clubs.
Fashion was on fire when #MrFloyd was in high school.
One of #FloydMartin’s classmates was Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe winning screenwriter Alan Ball, known for “American Beauty,” “True Blood,” “Six Feet Under.” They were in a club called the WSB Young Americans together.
As a high school senior #FloydMartin was voted friendliest.
Anyway back to the 4th of July. As parade grand marshal #FloydMartin will ride in a convertible through the Marietta Square, right by the historic Strand Theater.
When he was a small child #FloydMartin recalled sitting up in the balcony of the Strand Theater. “I always wondered how the white people got down on the floor.” His family had to enter by this side door. Only white people could go in the front, and sit in the main section.
After #FloydMartin’s story went viral the Strand Theater, where he was once forced to enter through a side door and sit in the balcony, put his name in lights. “I was like, look a there," he said. "To see ‘We Love You, Floyd’ .."
#Delta and #Marriott both reached out after reading #MrFloyd’s story and will make his lifelong dream of visiting Hawaii come true. He plans to go later this summer.
And here's his advice for whoever takes over his route. - 30 -
