John “J.C.” Conerly had worked for the U.S. Postal Service for nearly 45 years to the day when he retired in June. On June 27, he ran his last route and along the way well-wishers from many of the areas he served stood outside to not only wish him a happy retirement, but to also thank him for going above and beyond the requirements of his job.

Homeowner Cherie Kilgo recalled how Conerly would take the time to come to the door to deliver packages that would not fit in the mailbox, saving her a trip to the post office. It was a nicety he provided for everyone on his route.

Conerly began working for the USPS on Oct. 6, 1979, after passing the required government exam and after his interview with the head postmaster — a day he said he will always remember.

“I had an interview at the post office at 11 a.m. and that morning my wife went into labor,” Conerly said. “We got up to the hospital, I guess around 9 a.m. or a little bit before. The doctor came in, and he said it was going to be around 12:30 or 1 (before the baby would be born) so, I looked at my wife and said, ‘look, I got that interview, you know’ — we didn’t have insurance or anything — and I asked, ‘should I go to the interview at 11?’ and she said, ‘yea,’ so I went to the interview.”

Postmaster George Head was conducting the interview, Conerly said, and he asked him if he had any children.

“I said, ‘well in about two hours I will.’ And he said, ‘what do you mean?” And I said my wife went into labor this morning.”

Conerly said he told Head the baby wasn’t expected until 12:30 (p.m.) or later and he had decided to come in for the interview because he needed a good job with benefits.

Head hired Conerly, but he did check to confirm Conerly had been telling the truth about his wife being in labor.

“He thought I was just, you know, telling him a big, tall tale,” Conerly said, “So he asked me who the doctor was, and he did some checking, and he found out I wasn’t lying to him.”

Conerly began as a clerk in the mail room and remained in that position for two years. It was after the birth of their second child, he said, that he began delivering mail. He wanted to make the changes because a mail carrier’s hours would be more conducive to having a family. As a clerk, Conerly had worked from 6:30 p.m. until 3 a.m.

And while the hours may have been a better fit for a family, delivering mail was a more labor-intensive job that was without air conditioning, he said. It also came with hazards like dogs.

Conerly said he was only bitten once.

“I walked right by him going to the house and heading back down the driveway he got me. It was a sneak attack, and he got me on the back of the leg. So, I was pretty lucky there,” he said.

Then there was the time he could have been bitten by a dog. He was making a delivery to the late Dr. Bob Shell’s home.

“One time at Christmas they called me in on my day off and I was delivering a package on Warrenton Road,” Conerly said.

He drove up the long driveway, parked the truck and got out, he said, noting there was a large magnolia tree just on the other side. The limbs of the magnolia tree hung to the ground which, unfortunately for Conerly, prevented him from seeing the homeowner’s rottweiler, which was lurking on the other side.

As one might suspect, the dog began running toward Conerly, chasing him all the way back into his truck.

Conerly said he dropped the box, which was full of fruit, and tried using spray as a defense, but it was ineffective.

Even after he had gotten inside the truck and moved to the back, Conerly said the dog was still trying to come after him.

“But he was just too big to get inside to get to me,” he said.

The owner’s son finally came outside, leashed the dog and proceeded to take him to the back yard. It was then Conerly said he was able to get back out of the truck, pick up the box of fruit and sit it at the front door.

Thinking his dog troubles were behind him, Conerly said he was surprised when he saw the owner being dragged back to the front yard by the dog.

“He was after me again,” Conerly said, “So I sprayed (the dog), me and the owner.” 

Conerly laughed as he told the story, but said that at the time it had not been so funny. Especially when the homeowner asked, “man what was that you sprayed? It’s burning up my eyes and arm.”

Conerly said he would never forget his encounter with the rottweiler and pepper spray, nor will he forget all the happy times and kindness shown to him during his 40-plus year career.

“The people were always kind to me, I never had a problem with anybody,” he said.

The relationships Conerly has made during his years of service were evidenced on his last day of work. Many from the neighborhoods where he delivered mail were outside to wish him well. Some even tied balloons to their mailboxes as a sendoff for his next journey in life. A daycare center along Porter’s Chapel made signs expressing how they would miss their favorite mailman while also wishing him a happy retirement.

“The kids have always enjoyed seeing the mailman come,” Cross Point Daycare director Molly Robinson said. “So, we thought since he (Conerly) has been so faithful in rain, hot or freezing cold, we wanted him to know we will miss him, but pray he enjoys his retirement.”

“It was very surprising to me when I turned up around the daycare,” Conerly said. “I saw all the kids and thought they were just lining up. They usually lined up to go over to the main building right there by the mailbox. But then I saw a whole bunch of them, and they all had signs and stuff,” he said.

With all the displays of kindness and appreciation, Conerly said, “I felt love,” and added that in all his 45 years of being a mail carrier, “That last day might have been my best day.”