Community celebrates longtime Buxton Postmaster Donna Parker as she retires after 34 years of service

On the day of her official retirement, longtime Buxton Postmaster Donna Parker was honored for her years of service to the Hatteras Island community at a surprise and informal ceremony with friends, colleagues, and Hatteras Island County Commissioner Danny Couch.

Held at the Buxton Post Office, Couch presented Parker with a Dare County Proclamation thanking her for her exceptional service, and celebrating the highlights of her distinguished career.

Parker started her career in 1990 in Watauga County, North Carolina, as a $5 per hour casual city carrier, which is generally hired on a temporary basis to supplement the regular workforce.

Her diligent work ethic earned her a position as rural carrier associate, working variable hours by filling in for regular carriers who were on vacation, sick, or otherwise unable to perform their duties.

In 1994 she was offered a career position as a City Carrier, and over the years, she was asked to perform management roles, and was promoted to Supervisor before eventually earning a Postmaster position. Parker also served as Hatteras Island’s Areas Post Office Operations Manager.

In addition to these jobs, she has served on many project teams and became Yellow Belt Certified in Lean Six Sigma. Throughout her career, Parker has helped train many employees that have went on to become Supervisors and Postmasters, including folks who are close to home.

Since 2014, Parker has been a familiar face at the Buxton Post Office, and she has been a template to follow for the current crew who are carrying on her duties.

“I worked with her five years here, and you couldn’t ask for a better boss,” said Buxton Post Office’s Darryl Hill. “She knows everything there is, and you just soak so much up from her on how you can best do the job.”

Case in point, colleagues estimate that Donna had roughly 3,000 hours of sick leave reserved when she retired, because she never took a day off, especially when she was needed the most.

“In terms of service employees, she was just phenomenal,” said Couch. “Whether there were storms or other hardships, she always made sure that if there was mail or packages that people needed, they got them. She was really gifted in her ability to help people when they were in need.

“I think we can all take a lesson in what it’s like to be a public servant in the way that she went about her job for all those years,” added Couch. “She always had a smile, and she really made a difference in our community.”

Parker was led to the surprise celebration on Wednesday, October 31, by her daughter, and under the guise that her colleagues needed a hand.

“She came in because she thought, ‘it’s my last day, I’m going to go in and help,’” said Hill. “She wasn’t the type to take a lot of days off, that’s for sure.”

Surprised by the crowd at the Buxton Post Office, Parker graciously accepted the Dare County Proclamation presented by Couch, and signed by Commission Chairman Bob Woodard and Clerk to the Board of Commissioners. Skyler Foley.

She told the crowd that her future plans entailed tackling some new educational adventures – like learning the banjo and a new language – and spending as much time as possible with her grandchildren.

“I had a feeling something was happening, and they told me they might take some pictures today, but I didn’t expect this,” said Parker. “It’s pretty amazing – and it was definitely a wonderful surprise.”