WINNSBORO – Before Barbara Jackson hired on at the Winnsboro post office in December, 1989, she says she didn’t even know where the post office was located. When she retired last month, she says it was like leaving family – not only those she worked with at the post office, but those she delivered the mail to as well.
“I was working part time at the Northeast Columbia post office when my boss, who was from Winnsboro, was transferred to the Winnsboro post office. He thought I was a good worker and asked me if I’d like to transfer to Winnsboro,” she says. “So, I did.”
“My job in Winnsboro as the Route 1 rural letter carrier has been a wonderful experience,” says Jackson, affectionately known as B.J. to friends, co-workers, and her Winnsboro rural route customers. “After delivering their mail for all those years, I got to know the people on my route and they got to know me. I’ve got more mamas and poppas out there than you could imagine,” she says with a smile.
She says she watched many of the children on her route grow up, get married, and have children of their own. One of her fondest memories is of children gathering around her vehicle when she delivered packages to their homes.
“My route customers and I had a good relationship. It was a joy driving out there in the country every day and delivering their mail,” says Jackson. “I looked forward to it.”
While postal customer complaints are rampant across the country these days, Jackson says she doesn’t remember any complaints called in by her customers.
“When my customers had a question or problem, they just called me,” she said, matter-of-factly. “They knew me well. My name was on my car license plate, and many of them had my phone number. We were close. I enjoyed trying to do a good job for them all.”
At 66, Jackson has never married and has no children. She says she used to travel in her spare time, but now enjoys staying home and relaxing with a good book.
What does she contemplate for her post-retirement years?
“I will continue to teach Sunday School at Little Zion Baptist Church on Hwy. 321, and I’m looking forward to getting more involved with church work, but as for as what I contemplate for my future, I say, ‘Lead on Good Shepherd. Where You lead me, that’s where I’m going,’” she says.
She says retirement is bitter-sweet for her.
“It was a great job and I loved it, but it’s time for me to let somebody younger do this job now,” she says.
“My customers were the best, and I have a goodbye message for them: ‘You made my years out there on the route very amazing. You were good to me and I always tried to give you good service. It was really my pleasure to serve you. And I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye,” Jackson says. “You meant a lot to me.”