Just before 11 every morning, Whitley Webb has counted on a friendly face delivering the mail to Wier/Stewart on Broad Street.
On Friday, however, she gathered her co-workers when she saw Phil Jesse’s mail truck pull up.
June 27 was retirement day for Jesse after nearly 40 years with the U.S Postal Service
“We have all come to know him and love him,” said Webb, the studio manager.
Her co-workers all signed a card and applauded Jesse as he brought in the mail for the final time. A “happy retirement” banner hung from the front desk. The company also had a special “Happy” button made for the day. The square-shaped pin resembled a postage stamp.
Several businesses along Broad Street had the pins available on Friday.
Jesse started with the postal service in 1986 in New Hampshire and moved to Augusta in 1988. He had the same route for about 30 years; it encompassed Ninth to 15th Street from Ellis Street to the Savannah River.
He’s seen a lot of changes in downtown during those years. He’s watched the revitalization efforts over the years. He was particularly impressed with the young people who came into the area in the 1990s to open businesses and make their mark. Some of them, such as Nacho Mama’s, have stood the test of time.
It’s the people he’s met along the way that he said he’ll miss the most.
“They are like family; they really are,” said Jesse, who shook hands with employees of local businesses as he handed them their mail.
Another part of the job he loved was being outside.
“In the last three or four years for the first time I’ve actually felt like I’ve adjusted to the heat,” said Jesse, who averaged about 12,000 steps a day. “My first year here I thought I was going to die.”
Jesse isn’t sure what retirement will hold. He plans to take it easy for his first week, and after that find a part time job or volunteer a few days a week.
But he told his friends downtown that he will still see them. His wife, Kay, works in the Truist building and they frequent Broad Street restaurants at lunch.
Jesse wasn’t the only postal worker to retire this week. His fellow letter carrier, Mike Anderson, who works in the medical district, was scheduled to deliver his last piece of mail on June 28.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards and is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
Thank you Charmain for sharing Phil’s story!
He was my letter carrier for the nearly 20 years I lived in Olde Town, best one I’ve ever had. I loved when our schedules intersected, and I had a chance to chat with him from time to time. This is a well-earned and deserved retirement!