For Diane Barringer being postmaster of Lakeville is more than just handling people’s letters and packages, it’s being a caring and involved member of a small rural community.
‘I have very nice customers,? she said. ‘They’re like my family.?
Sadly for Lakeville, Barringer’s last day on the job is Friday, January 28.
The Clarkston resident is retiring from the United States Post Office following a career that’s spanned 27 years, the last 15 of which were spent as postmaster of Lakeville.
‘She’s a wonderful postmistress,? said Addison resident Diane Duval. ‘She’s very kind and considerate. She did whatever she could to help us. We will miss her very, very much.?
The Lakeville Post Office is different from most in that anyone with a Lakeville mailing address must have a post office box there. There’s no home delivery to Lakeville addresses, so residents must pick up their mail at the post office, which houses 440 boxes.
‘These people come everyday to pick up their mail,? Barringer said.
Consequently, Barringer experiences a great deal of daily interaction with her customers, which has spawned numerous friendships and caring relationships that go above and beyond the normal duties of a postal employee.
For instance, many of Barringer’s customers are senior citizens who live alone. If one of them doesn’t pick up their mail, she makes sure everything is all right
‘Because I know all my customers, if they don’t come in, I go find them,? she said. ‘It’s not like them to not come in. Several times I’ve had customers that were ill and had it not been for me going and checking on them, they wouldn’t be here.?
Several years ago Roy Bromley, a customer of Barringer’s who has since passed away, didn’t pick up his mail on a Saturday shortly before Christmas.
‘I thought that was odd,? she said. ‘He lived alone, so I called, but there was no answer. I drove to his house to see what was going on and found him in pretty bad shape. I called 9-1-1.?
‘Had I not gone there, he would have died,? Barringer added.
But Barringer’s concern for her customers doesn’t just manifest itself in dramatic events like saving a life, it’s evident in small, loving gestures like the tea and toast she makes and serves to seasoned resident Robert Smith on a regular basis.
‘She is a very loving person,? said Smith, who referred to their morning repast as ‘tea and crumpets.? ‘She’s concerned about all of her customers.?
In return, the community shows its love for Barringer through home-cooked meals, invitations to lake parties and the daily chats about weddings, births, new homes, pets, first days of school and the many other personal details customers regularly share with her about their lives.
‘You become part of their family,? she said.
With her last day rapidly approaching, Barringer is proud and grateful for her postal career (which began as a rural carrier in Clarkston), particularly her years in Lakeville.
‘It’s a fun job. It’s been a good job for me,? she said. ‘I don’t have any regrets. The Post Office has been very good to me.?
Barringer said she will definitely miss her people most of all when she retires.
‘I won’t miss getting up in the morning. But I’ll miss my people. I’m sad to leave my people,? she said. ‘I will really miss Mr. Smith because he’s here everyday.?
However, Barringer said she still plans to visit and check on her people when she can. ‘I’m not going away for good,? she said.
As for retirement, Barringer said she plans to spend it raising her 5-year-old granddaughter Lillianna. ‘It will be nice to be home. To put her on the school bus, comb her hair, things like that,? she said.
Barringer said she wants to be an active volunteer at Lillianna’s school, but when summer rolls around it’s off to the beach with grandma.
On behalf of the people of Lakeville, The Oxford Leader would like to thank Diane Barringer for her years of dedication, caring and selflessness, and wish her a happy retirement. Lakeville’s a better place because of you.