BLAKELY, GA — As part of the United States Postal Service’s “For the Long Haul” initiative, we are proud to celebrate Kerry Waller Smith, a dedicated rural carrier who has faithfully served the Blakely community for over 46 years and 35 of those years on the same route. Kerry’s unwavering commitment and exceptional service have made her a beloved figure in the neighborhood she serves.
“For the Long Haul” is an initiative designed to honor the remarkable dedication of long-serving letter carriers like Kerry, who have become integral parts of their communities. Over the years, Kerry has developed lasting relationships with residents, going above and beyond to ensure their mail is delivered with care and reliability.
“At the time of my hiring, I was a stay-at-home mom to two children,” said Kerry. “I was hired as a Rural Carrier Assistant for Route 4 in Blakely on June 16, 1978. At that time, there was no Rural Carrier Academy. We learned to do our job from those people that were already doing the job. On my official hire date, I delivered the mail on Route 4 where I served for four years. The regular carrier helped me case the mail and sent me on my way. I was driving a Nissan pick-up truck with a cover on the back. One of the bundles came loose in the back and went everywhere. I don’t like to give up, so I put it back in order and finally finished the route. There was nowhere to go but up!”
In 1982, Kerry become a regular carrier serving on Route 5 for 6.5 years delivering to 534 boxes of mostly residential deliveries. Then, on July 1, 1989, she started on Route 3. “So, for the past 35 years, I have seen families have children, those children grow up, get married and have children of their own, and sadly patrons pass away.” Her route is 450 deliveries and 100 miles in length with equal dirt and paved miles. “I was very proud when I became a Rural Carrier,” said Kerry. “My patrons are my extended family, so I look forward to seeing them each day.”
In her spare time, Kerry volunteers with the Clothing Room, a community outreach in her church. She processes, sorts, and prepares items for sale. Mowing grass and gardening keeps her busy at home. She also makes effort to spend as much time as possible with her youngest grandson. Her parents have always been her inspiration. “They taught me to work hard, treat everyone as you want to be treated, and enjoy everything. Each day is a challenge! Something can be learned from each experience, sometimes you just learn not to do something again.”
“I was hired as an RCA several years after Kerry’s career conversion,” said Blakely, GA Postmaster Wendy Powell. “For the past 42 years, Kerry has treated her customers like family and served them well. On days that she had car troubles, she changed tires, changed brake pads, and diagnosed and repaired problems to complete her route. She has been and continues to be an asset to not only the Blakely Post Office but also the United States Postal Service.”
The United States Postal Service has been an essential part of American life since its inception. Committed to providing reliable, affordable mail service to every address in the country, USPS plays a crucial role in maintaining communication and commerce across the nation.