Well, Shirley retired. She talked about the specific enticements that got her to apply to the post office for a job 31 years ago. Would you believe it was "good insurance"? A fragile special-needs child makes insurance at a company a real winner, and Shirley was fortunate by God's grace to be provided a job and supportive colleagues over the years, 20 years at Loxley and more years at Foley. "I have been so blessed to have such gracious coworkers in both places," Shirley observed several times.
"I had my life planned out, but God's plan took me in another direction," she noted. She shares her time with the Silverhill Library, the Town of Silverhill (Council Woman), her Zion Lutheran Church fellowship, and her family. "Y'all know that the Lord makes us a way in difficult circumstances," Shirley observed and shared some of the trials in her life.
Attendees had questions for Shirley. She was asked about customers at the post office. "Most of my customers were so nice and so patient!" She was asked about what it takes to keep a post office open in these times of contraction. "A post office is successful if it generates revenue. It's not the number of pieces of mail it delivers, but the number of stamps and services that are purchased at the post office that counts as to post office value." She was asked about buying stamps at a specific office and whether it would influence the revenue stream. "Yes," was the answer.
Frankie Kuchera, former Mayor of Silverhill, joined the men and women for Shirley Stephen's presentation. He volunteered, "Wherever she goes, she does a super job!" What an endorsement for a real civic benefactor who labors faithfully in a variety of volunteer activities!
