Jessieville postman honored by Westerman in House speech
A longtime Jessieville rural mail carrier who died last week was honored Wednesday in a speech delivered by U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-District 4, to the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.
Larry Earl Robertson, 54, who had delivered mail in rural Garland County for more than two decades, died unexpectedly Friday. His funeral was held Wednesday morning at Mount Tabor Baptist Church, followed by his burial at Rock Springs Cemetery.
Speaking on the House floor, Westerman called Robertson a friend and in honoring his service and other rural letter carriers, he said, “These carriers are essentially ‘post offices on wheels,’ providing many of the same services to rural residents that urban dwellers take for granted.
“One such rural carrier was Larry Earl Robertson of Jessieville, Arkansas. Larry was my mailman for more than 25 years and as many rural letter carriers throughout our country can attest, he was a part of the family. He knew my wife and children, just as we knew his family. He was an integral part of our community and played an important role in the lives of rural Garland County residents. Simply put, Larry was a friend to everyone. Just as Larry was a friend to all, he was also a faithful Christian and family man.
“Through his service at just 54 he had made an important and lasting impact in his community, as many rural letter carriers do. That is why it was especially sad when we received word of his untimely passing last week. In the pain and grief of death, we take comfort in the words of Christ who said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.’
“May we all strive to do our jobs with diligence and a smile and positively impact our communities as Larry Robertson impacted his,” Westerman said.