by Kate Evans
Longtime Paw Paw Postmaster Lori Davis officially retired last Friday, April 19 after 37 years of service to the United States Post Office. The community held an Open House Retirement Celebration for Davis on Tuesday, April 16 to honor her service to local residents and businesses.
Davis first started working for the Post Office in 1987 when she began her position as Postmaster Replacement at the Paw Paw Post Office. She held that position for 14 years, then worked as a Post Office clerk in Ridgeley for five years.
Davis came back to Paw Paw and became the Paw Paw Postmaster in 2006 – a position she then held for 18 years until her retirement.
Davis was born and raised in Paw Paw.
“It’s my hometown. I know everyone here. I hate to retire. I’m really going to miss everybody,” Davis said.
As Postmaster, Davis has run the Paw Paw Post Office and has had three routes and a clerk to oversee. Davis’ duties included managing all the routes and the employees.
“The best part of my job is the people that I work with — Lisa, Chris, Tammy, Leigh Ann, Sonia and Logan,” Davis said.
Working for the U.S. Post Office and being a Postmaster has been a family thing, Davis noted. Her dad Jack Weaver was the Postmaster in Paw Paw. He retired in 1984. Her brother and sister are both retired Postmasters. Her brother Andy Weaver was a Postmaster in Romney and her sister Lu Ann Rowzee was a Postmaster in Augusta.
Davis’ sister-in-law was a Post Office clerk in Slanesville. Davis’ husband, Paw Paw Town Manager Ron Davis, was formerly the Postmaster of the Berkeley Springs Post Office. He retired in 2016.
Lori Holliday said in a social media post about Davis’ retirement celebration that they’re sad that Davis is leaving but they wanted to honor her many years of service with the Open House, and they wish her all the best.
“For the past 18 years she has given excellent, knowledgeable service, accompanied by a warm smile and friendly conversation,” Holliday said.
April 19 was Davis’ last day at the Paw Paw Post Office. She is looking forward to doing some traveling with her husband in her retirement.
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