The Bagdad, Florida Post Office in Santa Rosa County was ruled by Miss Mary Joyner for 43 years before she retired in 1940. Born prior to the American Civil War on April 26, 1859, she passed away on June 22, 1944 and was buried beside her mother in St. John's Cemetery in Pensacola. Buried next to her is her younger sister Miss Emma Joyner who served as the assistant Post Mistress beside her sister. Both ladies owned a home at 384 Church Street in Bagdad, valued at $2,000 in 1940, before moving in with their niece Mrs. C. H. Parker at 818 East Brainard Street, Pensacola.
The newspaper article lists 1818 East Brainard Street, but the city directories show differently. Miss Mary resided there until her death in 1944. They were the daughters of Mrs. Emma A. Joyner (1829-1913) who raised her girls working as a seamstress. Prior to her post office job, Miss Mary worked as a stenographer at the Bagdad Land & Lumber Company. If you look at her listed pallbearers at her funeral, you will notice a "who's who" of the small lumber community of Bagdad. Her sister Miss Emma would follow her in 1951.
Bagdad, Florida Post Office c1900 with Miss Mary Joyner the Post Mistress (middle). Photo by Ms. Laura Green, Santa Rosa County.
Pensacola News Journal Article 6-23-1944
Miss Mary Joyner, St. John's Cemetery, Pensacola, Florida, St. John's Cemetery