John ‘JC’ Conerly Retires After 40 Years of Delivering Mail

Today is the last day John “JC” Conerly will be on his route delivering mail.

“Today is my last day of delivery on the route, tomorrow we’re gonna have a little party at the post office,” said a soft spoken and appreciative JC Conerly. Conerly started with the post office on August 6, 1979.

“He interviewed for the job the day my mom was in labor with me,” said daughter Sara Robinson.

“It’s kind of bittersweet,” said JC about his last day on the route. “It’s time to go, but you know I’m going to miss it. I’ve enjoyed delivering mail, meeting people, talking to people.” Daughter Sara said, “Lots of people have been stopping him along the way on his route today.”

“Yeah, they have. Kids at the kindergarten on Porter’s Chapel, people in the Woodland subdivison, my sister, my brother-in-law, my daughter; they caught me right down here,” said Conerly motioning to a nearby neighborhood. “It’s been a day of pictures.”

The normally matter-of-fact-like Conerly cracked a little smile as mused on what he will do with his time now that he is retired, “I’m gonna start a little garden. I may start fishing again. I get the weekends off now. Be my own boss.”

Conerly moved to the Vicksburg area from Tylertown, Mississippi when he was five. “My daddy was with the railroad in McComb and he got sent up here when I was five. Been here ever since.”

Talking about the people he’s worked with and the people on his route, Conerly said, “Their kindness to me, looking after me over all these years. Just being who they are and letting me be who I am. I’m happy and I’m kind of sad, too. I know I could probably go on a couple two or three more years, but, it’s just time.”

Conerly is the grandfather of Addison Leach and Landrey Leach.