Why Crozet: Batesville’s Vaughn Delivers Kindness & Mail

In Why Crozet, the Gazette focuses on the many positive aspects of life in Crozet as well as surrounding towns and countryside. We count those who perform public service with kindness and efficiency among the many benefits of small-town living. Sandra Vaughn has been honored by the Batesville community for her unfailing patience and compassion. 

Sandra Vaughn has had a variety of jobs in her life, most of them centered around caregiving in one way or another, for children as well as adults. “Caregiving is my passion,” she said, so it’s not surprising that her latest job involves taking care of an entire community. As she sees it, that’s part of the day’s work at the Batesville Post Office. Any newcomer who expects a grouchy, disinterested bureaucrat behind the counter is pleasantly surprised. Vaughn quickly realized that her place of business next to the Batesville Market is, like the Market, a place where people can inquire about the welfare of their neighbors or share news of any kind. 

Vaughn began with the postal service a few years ago as a mail carrier in North Garden after completing several weeks of classroom training. It was a somewhat solitary job that she soon realized was not for her. When the Batesville position opened up, she successfully applied and began sorting mail and greeting customers. The tight-knit community quickly appreciated her kind and sunny disposition, and she reciprocated. “I fell in love with Batesville right away,” she said. “We have such interesting people here—musicians, artists, orchardists, scientists, teachers—and they’ve been so generous with me.” Patrons bring flowers at every time of year to brighten the lobby: this spring, it was day lilies and daffodils. They post messages and lost-dog notices on the bulletin board. “I even have people stop to ask directions,” Vaughn said. “I do my best to help them.”

Although the village of Batesville is small, the postal designations are tricky, including Afton and Charlottesville as well as Batesville, addresses that may be separated by just a block or two. And the volume of packages is high at any time, but especially at Christmas. Vaughn takes the time to check with her post office box clients before sending back packages too large to fit in the box. “Sometimes they order something that should fit, but it may have excess packaging,” she said. “If they’re traveling, and can’t come in to pick it up, it seems a shame to return it.”

Vaughn quickly got to know which of her clients are elderly or in poor health. “If I don’t see them for a few days, I’ll give them a call,” she said. Her kindness is not lost on the community she serves, and she was chosen to be the grand marshal of the Batesville Day parade, a unanimous choice.“That was one of those secrets/not secrets,” she said. “The Ruritans would come through and drop hints.” 

Vaughn commutes to Batesville from Roseland, where she sings in the choir of Oak Hill Baptist Church. She loves singing gospel—her favorite hymns are “Amazing Grace” and “Because He Lives”—and is certified in horticulture and floriculture. Living in the midst of some of the area’s most productive orchards, she often brings seasonal fruit with her to share with the community, and you’re likely to find a bowl of apples sitting next to the bowl of candy her clients look forward to nibbling on while picking up their mail. “Now, I call that a balance,” she said.