Floyd Martin has been a hardworking mail carrier in Georgia for decades, and over the past twenty years, he’s worked the same route in a Marietta neighborhood. During that time, the USPS worker has bonded with members of the community, so when they heard he was retiring, they knew they had to do something for him.

Local reporter Jennifer Brett tagged along with Floyd on his last day on his route to document what happened, and she shared his story in a series of viral tweets.

THREAD: Floyd Martin retires after nearly 35 years as a mailman tomorrow. I went with him on his route today. pic.twitter.com/qZhUVY7Sz8

— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 22, 2019

“He graduated from Marietta High School in 1975 and took the postal service test a few years later,” Jennifer wrote of him. “By the time they got in touch he already had a job at a bank, but the USPS offered to double his pay. ‘I was like, OK when you do want me to start?'”

Many of the people on Floyd’s route waited specifically for him so that they could say goodbye to him.

Lorraine Wascher was waiting for him today. She’s been a stop on his route for more than 20 years. “He always had a smile, always had a wave.” pic.twitter.com/v8dD8CVoq9

— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 22, 2019

Lots of the “mail” Floyd picked up today was hand-delivered. “My people are so good to me,” he said. “I’m going to miss them.” pic.twitter.com/e6Mi8WctZl

— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 22, 2019

Jennifer found that he was particularly popular with the kids in the neighborhood.

Kids on his route love, love, L-O-V-E Mr. Floyd. Little Mae Bullington dressed up as Mr. Floyd on the day her school had career day. “I was so flattered,” he said. “It touched my heart.” pic.twitter.com/BbeT3AlhHp

— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 22, 2019

Of course, the older folks loved him as well.

“He feeds all the cats,” said Peggy Corn, who’s been on Floyd’s route for decades. “They all know him, and they know that buggy!”
“The dogs, too,” Floyd said. “The dogs get Milk Bones.” pic.twitter.com/ktZSBxlgfE

— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 22, 2019

“This is my friend Jim,” Floyd said, introducing Jim Pietrowski. Jim’s wife Charlotte recalled when the kids next door were little, they’d wait at the window for Mr. Floyd to roll up. They knew he was good for a lollipop. “When we met Floyd, it was like he was an old friend.” pic.twitter.com/a0UZ36uGLV

— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 22, 2019

“Floyd lives in Atlanta with his dog Gigi,” Jennifer continued. “It’ll be a little weird to just receive mail and not deliver it anymore.”

“I’m just going to smile,” Floyd told her.

“He doesn’t have children, just the 500 houses worth of kids he spends 6+ hours with every day,” she continued. “He hopes to go to Hawaii one day.”

Many on the route decorated their mailboxes for Floyd.

Update! People on Floyd’s route decorated their mailboxes to surprise him on his last day pic.twitter.com/7vo8Gepv2s

— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 24, 2019

When Floyd’s shift was over, the neighborhood had another surprise for him.

Once his very last shift was finally over, the neighborhood had another surprise for Mr. Floyd. 300+ people came to a covered dish block party in his honor. pic.twitter.com/8UvAclP6CA

— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 24, 2019

Here’s a short clip of Floyd next to one of the mailboxes decorated in his honor. He could have taken an easier job at the post office over the years but didn’t. “I could have left them a long time ago but I wouldn’t, because I love them.” pic.twitter.com/SOaIf3wBYr

— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 24, 2019

Floyd was touched by what they all did for him, and his final words to them were, “Continue to take care of each other, and smile when you think of me.”

Floyd said tonight’s sendoff was the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for him. His parting words: “Continue to take care of each other, and smile when you think of me.” -30 – pic.twitter.com/OsYgT1PgCp

— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 24, 2019

The neighbors also started a GoFundMe page to send Floyd to Hawaii, and they raised $26,000 in one day. Since then, they have raised a total of $32,800.

Find out more about this in the video below.