Hundreds of People Donate to Retiring Atlanta Mailman After Heartwarming Story Goes Viral

Floyd Martin, who just finished working as a mailman for 35 years, will finally go on his dream vacation to Hawaii.

usps mail truck
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Image via Getty/Dünzl/ullstein bild

usps mail truck

An Atlanta mailman is saying goodbye to a job he's worked for 35 years, and members of the community he serviced made sure to show their immense grattitude.

A thread posted by Twitter user @Jennifer__Brett went viral, detailing the story of Floyd Martin, an employee of USPS for over three decades. On May 22, she followed him through the neighborhood as he worked his last shift.

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

"Floyd Martin retires after nearly 35 years as a mailman tomorrow. I went with him on his route today," said Brett. She says after Martin graduated high school in 1975, he was offered at job at both the bank and the postal service, but took the latter because of a significantly higher pay. He has served the community in Marietta ever since then.

He graduated from Marietta High School in 1975 and took the postal service test a few years later. 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?" pic.twitter.com/P304AP4tAs

— Jennifer Brett 🇺🇦 (@Jennifer__Brett) May 22, 2019

The thread continues to illustrate how Martin became a neighborhood staple, as the residents, who shared several anectdotes, lined up to celebrate him on his last of service.

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

Floyd lives in Atlanta with his dog Gigi. It'll be a little weird to just receive mail and not deliver it anymore. "I'm just going to smile," he said. He doesn't have children, just the 500 houses worth of kids he spends 6+ hours with every day. He hopes to go to Hawaii one day. pic.twitter.com/W0RHdRvzgj

— Jennifer Brett 🇺🇦 (@Jennifer__Brett) May 22, 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

As a token of appreciation members of the community set up a GoFundMe account for the retired postman, in an effort to help him go on his dream vacation to Hawaii.

After achieving the targeted amount in just two hours, the campaign has managed to raise close to $17,800 in six hours. An update of the donation page reads, "To say we are humbled by the generosity of others is a complete understatement. Our original goal was reached in less than 2 hours, and through social media, we have been contacted by celebrities, national news outlets, and Delta has generously offered Mr. Floyd airfare to Hawaii so the funds raised can be for the time on the island. Thank you so much for everything!"

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