Marietta Gives Longtime Mailman A Big Retirement Sendoff

MARIETTA, GA -- A popular, longtime mailman in Marietta retired this week, and a GoFundMe has been organized to raise money to send Floyd Martin into the next chapter of his life. Martin's final day on the job that he has held for 35 years was Wednesday, and the community is raising money to make sure he'll be able to realize his dream of going to Hawaii for a well-deserved vacation.

"When the neighborhood that Mailman Floyd Martin has served for decades learned that he was retiring, there was a full-fledged effort to make sure he knew how much everyone loved him and that he would be missed," the GoFundMe page, which can be found here, said. To date, almost $14,000 has been raised out of the fundraiser's original, $5,000 goal.

Martin's story and the love felt by this Marietta community has made it as far as the Philadelphia Tribune. "His daylong goodbye basically turned into a big 'ole street party that attracted more than 300 people," the paper said. The AJC's Jennifer Brett accompanied Martin on his last day.

Martin told reporters he was stunned to see people were basically holding a block party in his honor. According to The Week, Martin has been invited to judge the neighborhood's annual Halloween parade.

"You were there when I needed you, even if you didn't know it," he told the crowd. "Continue to take care of each other, and smile when you think of me."

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