THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 20, 1995 TAG: 9501180131
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JANELLE LA BOUVE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 104 lines
A FIRST-CLASS postage stamp cost a nickel when Irma Silvester went to work at the Northwest Post Office in 1963.
During her 31 years on the job, the price of stamps went up eight times.
Silvester retired on Dec. 31, the day before the most recent price increase went into effect.
During her years at the little post office at 4420 S. Battlefield Blvd., Silvester was not a federal employee. She worked 33 hours a week under a private contract.
``I didn't think she would retire,'' said Hubert Powers, a longtime Northwest resident. ``She had said that before. I told her that to believe it I'd have to see it. We'll miss her.
``We could always count on her for the news,'' Powers added. ``We always told her we didn't need a newspaper as long as she was at the post office. She's a lot of fun to be around.''
``She always kept us up-to-date on what was going on,'' said Dorcas Hanbury, who lived in Northwest for 20 years. ``She was also very helpful and accommodating, too.''
``I've been called the mayor of Northwest,'' said Silvester, 69. ``A lot of people say, `Go to the post office if you want to know something.'
``I'm just a nosy person,'' Silvester said. ``I don't mean to be nosy. But I do try to be helpful. When people came in they would tell me things.''
Now and then, she would lose track of the specifics in the retelling, she admitted with a grin.
``Sometimes it would really get mixed up before it was over,'' she said. ``Like, I'd say Mrs. Brown had her third child when she really had four.''
On the second Saturday in January, more than 160 people filed through the narrow crowded entryway at Northwest Baptist Church on Ballahack Road to sign a guest book at a reception in her honor.
From 2 to 6 p.m., Silvester stood greeting well-wishers. Her short, silver hair shone above a purple suit piped in gold. The crowded room was decorated with retirement banners, balloons and tables laden with food and tall, airy floral arrangements.
The afternoon was filled with hugs and reminiscing as guests filled their plates with chip ``I've known her for 25 years,'' said Bessie Roberts, who came from Suffolk for the reception. ``She's a grand lady and a wonderful person. She's so good to everyone. I worked with her (at the post office) for a little while. I would be there yet if we hadn't moved away.''
Mabell Berry used to be a member of Northwest Baptist Church, where Silvester served as treasurer for 25 years.
``She told me one day that she couldn't sing, but she could help the needy,'' said Berry, who now lives in Moyock. ``She surely does help people.''
Gladys Gaylord spent the afternoon of the reception in the small church kitchen and kept the supply of food moving.
``I hate to see her leave the post office,'' said Gaylord, who has spent her entire life within a quarter-mile of the little post office. ``All these years, I've never learned the combination to my (post office) box. She'd always hand me my mail. She made out my money orders, too.''
Silvester didn't like the Northwest community when her husband first brought her there from Washington, D.C., but she came to cherish it.
``I love the people,'' said Silvester, who lives near the tiny post office. ``If anything happens in the neighborhood, they're so willing to help one another. You don't find that everywhere.''
Today, there are six lined-off parking spaces at the Northwest post office. A sign posted to the left of the door announces open hours: Monday-Friday, 8 to 10 a.m., 1-5 p.m.; Saturday, 8-11 a.m.
The painted cinder block building measures roughly 34 by 21 feet, including a restroom and storage area. Inside, there are 95 slots for mail.
A rusty blue enamel kettle steams on top of an oil stove that was there when Silvester took the job 31 years ago. A threadbare, brown towel lies across a tarnished chrome stool. A faded silver throw covers a large over-stuffed chair. Along one wall, there is an old school desk.
Silvester's familiar daily routine began at 8 a.m., when she opened the office doors. Her first duty was to bring in the mail from the outside boxes, prepare to meet the mail truck at 8:25 a.m. Then she would sort the mail and put it in boxes, waiting on customers all the while.
Linda Garrett has spent most of the past two years working with Silvester and learning the routine.
She's the new clerk in charge of the rural office.
``Irma is such a good, Christian person,'' Garrett said. ``She doesn't let things slide. She is a good example. I hope some day to be as good and kind as she is. Like the two cakes left over after her reception, she took those to the nursing home. That's how she thinks. She's super about giving rides to older friends who don't drive. She takes folks to the grocery store. . . .''
From time to time, when Charles Banks needed help at the nearby Northwest Grocery, Silvester would pitch in.
``She's worked, off and on, once or twice a month at Northwest,'' Banks said. ``She's a good person. When I call on her, she's always there.''
Although Silvester has retired, she'll be back at the post office when Garrett must be away. She'll also continue to help out at Northwest Grocery.
She likes to knit and crochet and plans to spend a lot of time catching up on visits with her grandchildren, who live out of the area. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Irma Silvester recently retired after 31 years at the Northwest Post
Office.
by CNB