Postal carrier says goodbye to route

OCOEE— Wayne Hurst’s customers know when he takes a day off, and many of them will call the Ocoee post office to make sure he’s OK. He has been the postal carrier for all of the neighborhoods along the Orlando Avenue corridor for nearly eight years, getting to know the people and names along that route, delivering cheerful greeting cards, holiday packages and monthly bills.

Another letter carrier will have to learn all those residents after Hurst retires from the Ocoee branch of the U.S. Postal Service July 29.

Hurst, now 67, has worked at the same post office for 27 years.

“I’ve seen babies have babies,” Hurst said. “And I’ve also watched people grow old, and that kind of hurts, as well. But it’s the circle of life.”

He will be missed by the folks on his route and the people with whom he works.

“He’s very popular in the community,” said Jim Vermillion, his supervisor of three years. “His work ethic is second to none. If we need any help, he’s the guy to go to because he’s the best.”

In the early days of Hurst’s postal career, most mailboxes were affixed near the front doors of homes, he said, and he walked probably 10 miles every day. Since curbside service has become more prevalent, Hurst does less walking but serves more homes in the same amount of time.

After spending about 90 minutes at the post office getting his mail organized, Hurst spends the next six-and-one-half hours on the street.

“It’s a little more strenuous job than most people think,” he said. “It’s more physical, and now it’s a lot more mental than it used to be.”

Six days a week, year after year, Hurst dutifully made his deliveries to Ocoee residents and businesses. Why did he remain in one place for so long? It’s his home. It’s where he grew up, attended school and graduated in 1965.

“I stayed in Ocoee because I live in Ocoee,” he said. “I deliver to a lot of people that I know. It’s really good to go out into the community and interact with people. Interacting with people and building relationships (is important).”

Interacting with animals is sometimes part of the job, too, and although Hurst said he was never bitten by a dog, he did receive a bite to the hand from a potbellied pig.

That was a minor medical scare, though, compared to the two kidney surgeries he had in an eight-year span. Twice his customers were without their favorite mail carrier. In 2001, he donated a healthy kidney in memory of his father, who died of kidney failure when Hurst was 8. Then in 2009, he learned his remaining kidney was failing and he had to have a transplant later that year.

“It was the right thing to do, even though I had some complications here and there,” he said. “I knew I wasn’t going to make a big impact on a lot of people, but I could help one person. I was the first anonymous kidney donor at Florida Hospital. And I actually met the young man. I’m sure it was a blessing to him, but it was a blessing to me, as well.”

WHAT’S NEXT

On Hurst’s last official day, Postmaster Hector Martinez will gather all of the Ocoee mail carriers for a send-off party.

As a testament to his dedication to the residents, the Admiral Pointe subdivision is holding its own retirement party for Hurst. In the past, he has been invited to judge various contests in the community and he always receives an invitation to the neighborhood parties.

“They’ve kind of adopted him,” said Hurst’s wife, Yvette.

After his final shift at the post office, his retirement begins. He will start assisting once a week at Matthew’s Hope, where his wife volunteers four days a week. He wants to work on his golf game. He hopes to learn how to cook.

Most importantly, though, he’s going to connect with family and friends.

“I’m going to visit people more often, visit people around here that I don’t see often enough.”

Contact Amy Quesinberry Rhode at [email protected].