Beloved Wilmington mail carrier says farewell to neighborhood after years of service

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY-TV) – A beloved postal worker is said farewell to his route through a Wilmington neighborhood on Friday.

“We’re pretty much out of the thick of it right now,” said Drew Myatt.

Myatt, a postal worker in the Carolina Place neighborhood, has had some long days the past few weeks during the holiday season.

“Some long days in there, but its worth it,” Myatt said.

Myatt said this is his sixth Christmas serving the neighborhood.

“It’s been a very good Christmas, kind of bitter sweet,” Myatt said.

Bitter sweet because it’s his last time serving the homeowners on this route. Myatt has been a postal worker for eight years after serving the Marine Corps.

“This was a pretty good fit for me I like the walking side of the post office,” Myatt said.

He said his walking mileage stacks up quickly.

“Give or take 11 or 12 miles a day,” Myatt said.

12 miles times five days a week could take a toll on 44-year-old Myatt. Now, he’s moving across town to a new route, which is closer to his home and involves fewer steps.

“Hopefully that’s going to be a good move, we’ll see,” Myatt said.

Myatt said he’s gotten o know around 90% of the homeowners and furry friends on his route. Tim Hodgin, homeowner on Wrightsville Avenue, said he always looks forward to seeing Myatt.

“I’m sure there’s other fantastic mail people, but he’ll be hard to replace, he’s kind of a one of kind and we always joke about the weather because he always wears shorts,” Hodgin said.

Justin Bashaw on Perry Avenue said Myatt has left his mark on the whole community.

“He’s always very, very interested in the good and bad and what’s going on in our neighborhood, happy ask to questions and be a friend and really be a fixture in the neighborhood and we’ll miss him,” Bashaw said.

Now Myatt has to say goodbye.

“It’s a little rough just because I’ve been here so long with the same people and I get to visit and see their kids grow up and you know see them walking their dog, the good days the bad days, just gonna miss everybody really,” Myatt said.

Myatt’s new route will be south of Market Street between Eastwood Road and Military Cut Off Road.