Scottie Noel: Thirty years of community and service . . . and counting
In 2003 my family and I returned to Durham, NC and moved back into the neighborhood we had left for a stint in NY/NJ in 1999. You expect changes when you return but the streets and many of the people we encountered rang with the same sense of community and familiarity we had left behind four years previously.
It’s a rare thing to walk down the street and hear your name called out from the Fed Ex Express truck but that’s just what happened. The smiling face and voice of Scottie Noel reached out from the truck to me exclaiming, “Mrs. Dobbins, I saw your name on a package and thought it might be a mistake. Welcome Back”.
For over three decades Scottie Noel has been the face and the smile of Fed Ex Express in our neighborhood and the surrounding areas of Durham. A native of Chapel Hill he went to work for Federal Express in 1994. A confirmed UNC basketball fan he is usually absent during ACC Tournament Week when he takes vacation to attend the tournament.
One of his joys has been to see the kids on his route grow-up and have children of their own. He has watched a lot of folks come and go during this time and has many recollections of those he has delivered to over the years. His smile and positivity is legendary. When word got around Fed Ex was deleting their Express division and Scottie would be retiring neighbors wanted to make sure he was not forgotten.
In our conversation I inquired about his philosophy and what he thought made him so effective. He answered “I treat every delivery as important medication and customers as valued family members”. He always looks for the positive and is willing to go the extra effort. He believes in looking up and not down. He has been the rescuer of dogs, the listening ear for those who are lonely and see no hope and often just the beep of a horn in recognition, a smile and a wave as he moved throughout our streets. “It’s all about relationships”.
Scottie was not quite ready to retire when Federal Express had other ideas. . . So what’s next Scottie? He is looking to start a transportation service. His focuses will be Handicap Accessible Transport and Luxury service.
Scottie has often been asked if his attitude and positivity were part of his training from Federal Express. He is quick to answer they didn’t make him like this — it’s just who he is and how he was raised; to treat others and himself with respect. It is easy to recognize Scottie Noel is one of life’s helpers.
Don’t be a stranger Scottie.
Deb Dobbins
And an added note from another neighbor:
“In addition to his excellent and efficient delivery work, Scottie has always exuded kindness and care for our neighborhood. Several years ago, he went above and beyond for our family. While on his delivery route, Scottie saw our daughter be hit by a car when she was riding her bike home from school. After checking that she was ok, he rushed to our house to find me, told me what happened, and shared the driver’s license plate number so that we could file a police report. Knowing that he was the first adult our daughter had contact with after such a traumatic incident brought calm to a terrifying situation. The next day, he made an extra stop at our house to just check on her. We will be forever grateful.”
Robyn Fehrman
Norton Street
