Postmaster Waters, who already knows which letter goes where, sends mail to a citizen of Tignall on its way. Christmas is a time when a trip to the mailbox is made with anticipation— not of the many advertisements for “holiday” gift bargains, but for the Christmas greetings from loved ones (always dear) and friends (long-time and new ones) far and near.

So, at this time, and always, we thank the people of the U. S. Postal Service and the parcel delivery services who work so hard to get those cards, letters, and packages to the right mailbox, the right home.

The Washington-Wilkes area has welcomed several new postmasters this year, with the Tignall Post Office having the newest in Richard Waters, who assumed his duties as postmaster on November 26th.

Even though Rick is from Rhode Island, he is not new to this part of Georgia. He was in the Greensboro Post Office for 13 years.

At Tignall, Postmaster Waters found the post office with “an excellent clerk” in Donna Moore, who has five years experience in that position. Donna knows the workings of the Tignall post office well and is acquainted with most of its people. She was handling the window the first week Rick was acting postmaster. He was planning to man it the following week.

Rick Waters, Tignall postmaster, enjoys the internet but this computer is only for his postal service work. You have met Donna here before. She tells me her sister-in-law, Nancy (Mrs. Bill) Chapman, is postmaster of the Washington Post Office. Donna’s husband, Ike Moore, is Nancy’s brother. Don’t you imagine that family Christmas gatherings for them have a lot of accounts of mail happenings woven into the Christmas cheer?! (They can probably tell you about some of my Christmas cards being returned for lack of the correct address.)

Also waiting to greet him were two fine rural carriers—Carl Jewell on Route Two, and Pam Pullen on Route One; and two good substitutes— Martin Echols, Route Two, and Heidi Cordell, Route One. Heidi is fairly new. Important to the whole department is custodian Sherry (Mrs. Larry) Head, who keeps everything in place and clean.

For Rick, the smaller post office will be somewhat different than the one he worked in in Rhode Island. There, he had 34 routes—13 city, and 21 rural. And, when they were short of carriers, he delivered mail.

The new postmaster was welcomed by Clerk Donna Moore, who has been at the Tignall Post Office a while and knows most of Tignall’s people. Postmaster Waters was born May 19, 1956, youngest of two sons of William and Margaret Waters. His younger brother and sister-in-law, William and Bonnie Waters, live in Perry, Ohio. His father, who is retired from the agriculture department, and his mother live in Ocala, Florida.

Rick grew up in Ohio. He graduated from Kent State University in 1978 with a bachelor degree in geography and was accepted in graduate school. He attended the University of Taledo a year. He moved to Rhode Island in 1982 and entered Officers Candidate School in Newport.

His previous work includes working with mentally retarded adults for two years; and as assistant manager of a retail paint store in Wake field, Rhode Island.

On September 8, 1982, Richard Waters and Charlene Silvia were married. Charlene is the daughter of Edward and Irene Silvia of Jamestown, Rhode Island. Her brother, Edward Silvia, also lives in Jamestown.

Richard C. “Rick” Waters has been Tignall’s postmaster since November 26, 2005. Rick started work as clerk in the post office in Charleston, Rhode Island, in 1986. He came to Greensboro, Georgia, in 1992, and was promoted to supervisor in 2001. He and Charlene went back to Rhode Island where he was supervisor until coming to Tignall as postmaster. During those seven months they lived with her parents in Jamestown.

“It’s a small world . . . “

While in Rhode Island, Rick just happened to be talking with another Richard — Richard Baker who is with the US. Postal Service’s Operations Program Support in Providence, Rhode Island, and told him he was going to be postmaster in Tignall, Georgia.

“My mother lives there!” said Richard Baker. And, she does. Richard is the son of Joan (Mrs. John) Baker, who is looking forward to having her son with her in January.

Rick and his wife have driven the 1100 miles between here and Rhode Island four times in the last seven months. He knew he had the postmaster’s job in Tignall the first, or second, week of October. They came down the beginning of November — were on the road Thanksgiving Day.

They found their Upton Mills Plantation home and arrived at 356 Upton Mill Drive on a Saturday. The movers arrived the next day. They’ve been busy getting moved in and all that goes along with that. They have met some of their neighbors, and, he says, “They’re great!”

Also getting used to a new home is their seven-year-old Chocolate Lab, “Miss Emily.” Miss Emily had a stroke in May, before they left Rhode Island. She has recovered real well, but is blind. She can walk now, but her running days are over. She’s getting good care and is a big part of the family.

Charlene, a medical assistant, has done lots of volunteer work in the past. She plans to go to work locally, but is not seeking employment until after Christmas. She wants to make sure Miss Emily is used to her new home, before leaving her alone.

Rick says she is an excellent cook who now has them on the South Beach Diet, because his brother had such success with it. But, while speaking of favorites, Rick said his favorite meal is woven around pork roast. Charlene is a vegetarian.

As for “fun,” Rick says his work is fun. He also likes to fish and used to enjoy playing softball. They love to watch movies at home and have a nice collection of good ones. Charlene is an avid reader; he reads — likes Steinbeck. Both enjoy the internet.

Charlene likes flowers, but they have not gardened for years. They have lots of room for them at their new home . . . if deer don’t eat them. They are enjoying seeing deer and turkey. (There’s the belief that deer have moved to town, knowing they are safe from hunters there, but they’re still at Upton Mill Plantation.)

They enjoy traveling in the states and have visited all of the New England states and those in the Southeast, but have not been out west together — he has. They go to Jamaica almost every year . . . nine times in a dozen years, and enjoy it very much.

Rick says Washington is a great town and the people have been good to them in the few weeks they have been here. At the time of our visit they were planning for the Tignall Post Office Christmas party to be held at Watchmaker’s this year.

He also had much praise for the people of Tignall. He had already enjoyed the good food of the Kum Bak Cafe and spoke of “a good double cheeseburger which was huge!” He expects, when he gets settled in, to go home at lunch time and let Emily have an outside break.

He and Charlene are looking forward to having family with them during the Christmas holidays. His brother and sister-in-law, William and Bonnie Waters, are coming the day after Christmas and will be staying until the New Year.

He says Charlene’s parents do not get off the island much anymore. While Bonnie was growing up she had to take a ferry to and from home. Now, the road is bridged.

We wish Rick and Charlene a very merry Merry Christmas in their new home in Washington. We do appreciate them, and all of the people of the U.S. Postal Service. We wish all of them a Merry Christmas, as they’ve helped so many good wishes along the way.

Merry Christmas to all of you dear readers, too!