Asbell and Jones retire from post office

By Carrie A. Mizell
Jo Carol Asbell is Gilchrist County born and bred and she’s not going anywhere.
Though she retired after nearly 20 years at the Trenton Post Office last week, Asbell said she plans to stay active in the community she calls home.
“It’s bittersweet,” Asbell said on Friday, while talking about her last day serving customers at the Trenton Post Office.
Asbell began her career with the United States Postal Service as a postmaster relief/leave replacement.
“The people have been my main focus over the years,” Asbell said. “They have been so good to me.”

Familiar faces at the Trenton Post Office, Jo Carol Asbell and Sam Jones will be missed.

Customers quickly became friends, who over the years have brought in a number of baked goods for Asbell and her fellow employees to enjoy, like the woman who sent her son in with a huge coconut cake for Asbell earlier this week, a delicious going away gift.
Being a Gilchrist County native has been an advantage for Asbell as she has worked at the Trenton Post Office. There have many numerous times over the years that she can recall a sympathy card coming in for someone with no address written on the envelope. While the postal employees are not allowed to give out someone’s address, Asbell has been able to place the cards in the recipient’s mail box because she knows just about everyone who receives mail through the Trenton Post Office.

New postmaster Linda Jenkins

“I’ve always tried to help people if I can,” Asbell said.
Over the years, Asbell said the customers have not changed a lot, but the post office’s working relationship with UPS has changed drastically.
“When I started you didn’t mention UPS; it was a dirty word,” Asbell explained. “Now they fly our mail and deliver our packages and we deliver their packages. We’re just one big family.”
Asbell said she wanted to retire so she could spend more time with her husband James, who retired from Central Florida Electric Cooperative six years ago. Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, James gave up farming this year and now the two plan to spend some time traveling. She may even sign-up to be a substitute teacher.
Trenton Postmaster Sam Jones also retired last week after 32 years with the United States Postal Service. Jones began his career in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and transferred to Jacksonville, Florida, in 1985. After that he worked as a manager at various post offices. Five years ago he transferred to Trenton Post Office.
“When I first got to Trenton I didn’t know how I would be received as the first black postmaster, but it has been a very enjoyable experience,” Jones said. “The employees take care of each other like a family here and the people in the community are so friendly.”
Trenton’s new postmaster is Linda Jenkins.