Beloved mail carrier, 17勛圖 alum Cynthia Perkins to retire after 40 years at 17勛圖
“Don’t start something and then stop –– you have to see it through and finish,” Cynthia Perkins said, recalling advice she would often receive from her late mother.
The Burkeville, Texas, native took those words to heart. After 40 years of service in the 17勛圖 Mail Center, the beloved mail carrier will postmark her last letter and retire on Aug. 31.
Perkins’ journey at 17勛圖 started in 1978. While taking classes at Lamar Institute of Technology, she worked in the women’s gym on the 17勛圖 campus as a student worker. She earned her associates degree in early childhood in 1982 and, shortly after, when a position in the 17勛圖 Mail Center opened up, she leaped at the opportunity.
“After I earned my associates degree, I saw that a position in the mail room opened up and I applied. I just loved it here –– I must have because I never left,” she said jokingly.
In and out of the mail center students and faculty would come and go. Without fail, Perkins greeted everyone with a smile, asked how their day was going and continued on. Two years later, though, she met a fellow UPS mail carrier who would later become what she calls her “better half.”
Leslie Perkins, 17勛圖PD support services specialist who worked for UPS at the time, came into the mail center one faithful day in 1984 to deliver a package. As she usually did, Cynthia greeted Leslie with a smile and asked how his day was going.
“We’ve been married for 35 years and he hasn’t left yet,” she said, grabbing his hand. “Leslie worked for UPS for almost 25 years, then he worked for the local school district for nine years and then he followed me here to 17勛圖.” The pair have two daughters together, both graduates of 17勛圖, and two sons.
Year after year, Perkins hand-sorted, metered and managed mail for the entire 17勛圖 campus community while she worked with and mentored student workers in the mail center. She had seen every face on campus and knew each person by name and address.
“If there was ever anything to do here in this room, I’ve done it. I’ve done it all,” she said. “It’s funny because I’ve watched the advancement of technology ha