In the professional life of Betty Young of McColl, S.C., work at a post office has been all she has ever known. The 30-year veteran of the postal service will retire Monday after more than a decade and a half at the Laurinburg Post Office.

"I've been with the postal service for so long it's the only work I know how to do," she said. "I worked at the post office in McColl for 10 years, then Marion, S.C. for one and Florence, S.C. for two after that. Then I came to Laurinburg, where I've been for 16 years."

Young served as a mail carrier with a decade of experience before back surgery limited her duties to working inside of the post office.

"I attempted to learn everything about how a post office works," she said. "That way, I would know how to do a certain job if we were short-handed."

Young's commitment made her an essential component of the Laurinburg Post Office, according to her supervisor Tana Hanlon.

"Betty is the backbone of the post office here," Hanlon said. "She knows everything there is to know about how the office functions, she's dependable, and she has a good sense of humor; Betty is our 'go to' person, a fixture, and it won't be the same here without her."

Like her colleague Jim Rush, who also retires after 36 years with the post office this week, Young leaves behind plenty of memories and friends from many years of contact with the public.

"I'm excited to retire, but I also regret leaving the customers I've come to know," she said. "Everywhere I've lived I've made friends, and I tried to give the public 110 percent while I was working; I treated the patrons like I wanted to be treated myself."

Unlike Rush, who listed a number of activities he has planned to do upon his retirement, Young has only one specific plan to follow in her free time to come.

"I plan to do absolutely nothing," she said, laughing. "My son has a house at the beach, so if I feel the need to do anything, I'll go there."