Man who lost wallet in Macon would like to meet mystery finder

Harrell Floyd wasn't feeling well a couple of weeks ago.

It wasn't anything he ate. It had nothing to do with the pollen count, a bad day fishing or the latest presidential primary.

It was the sick sensation in the pit of his stomach when he reached for his wallet and nothing was there.

Harrell is 76 years and retired from a 28-year career at J.M. Huber Corp. It was the first time in his life he had ever lost his billfold.

To make matters worse, it happened in the big city of Macon, about 35 miles from his home on Highway 112 between Cary and Cochran in Bleckley County.

His wife, Janice, is a caterer. She bakes cakes and cooks meals for civic clubs, churches and special events. Harrell had just dropped off a 12-layer chocolate cake at the law firm of Hall, Bloch, Garland & Meyer in the Fickling Building on Mulberry Street.

After he made the delivery, he drove to Harbor Freight Tools on Eisenhower Parkway to shop for a new jack. When he reached for his wallet, his back pocket was empty.

Harrell called Janice, his wife of 47 years.

"I could almost see the look on his face over the phone,'' she said.

His mind was racing faster than the wheels of his red Dodge Ram truck. Mentally, he began sorting through the contents of his leather wallet of more than 20 years. Of course, there was his driver's license and photograph of Janice. There were credit cards, a $50 Wal-Mart gift card and $370 in cash.

Worried, he returned downtown to retrace his steps. In the lobby at the Fickling Building, he asked the security guard if it had been turned in. His eyes searched the sidewalks and curbs. He even checked the shrubbery in the wide median at Mulberry, in case someone might have removed the valuables and tossed the wallet in the bushes.

Janice alerted the credit card company, and Harrell drove home with a sense of resignation. The odds were long. It was during the Cherry Blossom Festival, and the lunchtime foot traffic was heavier than it normally would have been. He knew it was a goner.

The next morning, as Janice was getting ready to cater lunch for the Rotary Club in Cochran, their rural mail carrier arrived early and honked his horn in the driveway.

The Floyds had a package sent by priority mail. The postmark was stamped from Macon. The sender had spent $13.05 on postage.

When Harrell opened it, his jaw dropped. Surprised. Shocked. Stunned. There weren't nearly enough synonyms for astonished.

It was his wallet. Everything was still in there, along with a handwritten note.

"I mailed at your expense,'' it read. "Broke.''

There was no return address. It was signed, "Finder.''

A postscript had been added: "I kept the change to buy a Coke.''

Janice contacted the post office at the federal courthouse and talked with Janet Copeland, a window clerk who said she knew the name of the woman who mailed the package. She said the woman does not have a P.O. box but stops by weekly to check for any general delivery mail being held for her. In the past, the woman has been a client at Loaves & Fishes Ministry on Broadway, which provides assistance to some of the homeless in the city.

Last week, I asked several folks to help me locate the woman. There have been a few leads, but I may have to wait to write another happy ending to this story.

Harrell and Janice are longtime members of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Cary. They are honest, God-fearing people who "try to lead a good life.'' They have faith there are still honest folks in the world.

"We never expected to see the wallet again ever,'' Janice said. "I know a lot of people probably would have kept the money. It was heartwarming that someone without a penny to their name would return it.

"If we ever get to meet her and thank her, I will probably cry.''

They are determined to find the finder.

Ed Grisamore teaches journalism and creative writing at Stratford Academy in Macon. His column appears on Sundays in The Telegraph. He can be reached at edgrisamore@gmail.com

This story was originally published April 9, 2016 at 3:49 PM with the headline "Man who lost wallet in Macon would like to meet mystery finder ."