Lanexa postmaster retires after 23 years in New Kent

Bryan Perkinson spent his last day on Friday behind the customer service counter at Lanexa Post Office. Thus ended a 35-year career with the U.S. Postal Service, the last 23 as Lanexa’s postmaster.

“It’s going to be a little different not seeing everyone like I usually do,” he said while sitting in his office the day before reflecting on his work in the New Kent County community.

“I’ve been here since 1985. It’s been a long time, but it doesn’t seem like it,” he added. “When you stay in the same place, you get to know everyone, see families grow up, new people move in, and older people pass away. I never planned to stay in one place so long, but it seemed to work out that way.”

His career began in Petersburg and included stints in Richmond and Fort Lee before he applied for and landed the Lanexa post where a lot has changed since he took over.

Back then, Lanexa Post Office was housed in cramped quarters across Route 60 from the present day site. The 412 square-foot cinder block building had no central heating or air-conditioning and no hot running water. Crammed inside the lobby, which could accommodate no more than two people at a time, were 134 postal boxes. Lanexa had only one-and-a-half rural routes.

“It was pretty much a manual operation and not too far removed from the Ben Franklin era,” Perkinson recalled.

In December 1999, the tiny building’s 43 years as a post office ended. Lanexa staff moved into their spacious, 3,500 square-foot home that features 800 boxes and, of course, central heating and air plus hot water.

“We now have four routes and the number of boxes rented has more than doubled,” Perkinson said. “We’re much more automated over here, not as much as big offices, but we rely on computers much more. It’s quite a change from the old days of pulling out stamps and slapping them on packages.”

The Lanexa facility serves a wide geographical area that stretches from just east of New Kent Court House into the western sections of James City County — from the Chickahominy River to the Pamunkey River, Perkinson points out. There are close to 2,300 postal customers on rural routes and in-office boxes combined.

“This is a changing business, even in rural areas like Lanexa. It has to,” he said, noting competition from other delivery services and computer e-mail.

“We probably serve the customer more on a personal basis than in your bigger post offices,” he said. “It makes for a much more efficient operation when you have that rapport with customers, and it’s much more pleasant for the customer, I hope. We know the customers by name, and they know the carriers.”

Perkinson said the best part of being postmaster is dealing with customers. It can also be the worst, he said, adding, the task “demands a lot of communications skills and listening.

“You meet a lot of different people from all walks of life,” he said. “New Kent has a lot of diversity. I’ve been fortunate to meet a lot of nice people and make friendships over the years.

“And the people I work with are great,” he went on. “We’ve got some really great employees here, and that makes the job all that easier.”

The people — both in front of the counter and working with him behind — will be what he misses most in retirement, he said.

“And I guess I’ll miss the routine. You do the same routine for a number of years, you may not like it, but it keeps you busy and out of trouble. When I’m gone I’ll probably miss it.”

Perkinson said he has no concrete retirement plans, but at the young age of 57, he figures he’ll find something to do.

“I’ll take a little time off to see what it’s like not to get up at 5 a.m. every morning,” he said. “Then maybe I’ll get a part-time job. It’ll be a change, but I think a little bit of change is good for everybody.”

Those who have known Perkinson over the years will be able to wish him farewell during a retirement celebration on May 17. The event is scheduled for 5-8 p.m. inside the fellowship hall at nearby Liberty Baptist Church.

“This is for the general public,” he said, “and the customers and friends of Lanexa Post Office.”