By Staff
POSTMASTER RETIRES Betty Ann Engell, left, a 30-year employee of the post office in Marion, hands mail Wednesday to Barbara Rivers,the new postmaster. Engell retired last week after working more than 18 years as postmaster in Marion. Photo by Kyle Carter/The Meridian Star
By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
Oct. 9, 2003
Betty Ann Engell's former co-workers at the Marion post office say they don't know how they will make it without her showing up for work every day.
Engell retired as postmaster last week after 30 years of service. And even though she won't be heading to work anymore, she has no intentions of slowing down.
Engell said she also is looking forward to gardening and sewing in her extra time.
After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi as a math education major, Engell began her career as a math teacher at Northeast Lauderdale High School.
Engell said she left teaching to work at the post office part-time because she had two small children at home.
Engell said a lot has changed in the mail business over the past 30 years. She said the most significant change has been the computerization of the whole mail process.
What will Engell miss most about the mail business? "Working with the people and seeing them every day," she said.
The new Marion postmaster, Barbara Rivers, said she is happy to take over Engell's duties. But, she said, she knows she has big shoes to fill.
Rivers transferred to Marion from the post office in Braxton, where she served as postmaster; she wanted to come back to the area. Rivers is originally from Union and she now lives in Marion.
Engell said she believes Rivers will do a good job running the post office. But, Engell said, she is a little sad to let go.