Delivering the mail

LA GRANGE - There's a new postmaster in town.

Cynthia Creech was sworn in Wednesday as the latest supervisor of La Grange's post office.

"I've been through four or five postmasters and I'd have to say you're the best-looking one of them," Mayor Woody Gurley joked during Creech's swearing-in ceremony.

The event was held in the town post office, and postal employees and Creech's family and friends, along with top municipal officials, attended.

After the laughter died down from Gurley's earlier remark, the mayor turned serious.

"We hope you'll be with us for many, many days, and if there's anything you need, just let us know," he said.

Creech, who has worked for the U.S. Postal Service since 1998, officially started as La Grange's postmaster in September.

She said her job entails "making everybody happy."

The duties of postmaster include clerical, administrative and customer service functions at the post office, plus supervising office workers and mail carriers in the field, Creech said.

The services of one veteran La Grange mail carrier, Kendrick Harrison Jr., were also recognized during Wednesday's ceremony.

Harrison was a rural carrier for 39 years, and retired Dec. 31. A letter of commendation from David C. Fields Sr., head of the USPS' Mid-Carolinas District, was read during Wednesday's ceremony.

"The fine reputation the Postal Service enjoys is built on the loyal service of persons such as you, and I am happy to commend you for your contribution towards a better Postal Service," Fields wrote.

Harrison said he had carried mail to rural customers in Greene, Lenoir and Wayne counties for nearly 40 years.

"I'm going to miss the personnel in the office I work with every day," he said.

Harrison had to drive 50 miles round-trip each day, delivering mail to about 3,000 people.

"That part I ain't gonna miss," he said of the route.

La Grange resident and former Lenoir County Commissioner Oscar Herring spoke during the ceremony about the need to increase parking at the town's post office.

There are only four spaces in front of the office, not including a space for disabled drivers, which he said is not enough for the high customer volume.

"For all the people that we serve, we need more parking places," said Herring, who later discussed the situation with municipal leaders.

David Anderson can be reached at (252) 559-1077 or danderson@freedomenc.com.

La Grange Postmaster Cynthia Creech, a native of Snow Hill, has worked for the U.S. Postal Service since 1998. Here are some of her career highlights:
-Mail carrier, Ayden
-Officer-in-charge, Dover, Beulaville and La Grange
-Supervisor, customer service, Mt. Olive
-Postmaster, Cove City