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GREENSBORO — Delsene Hauser’s first assignment with the U.S. Postal Service was to unload mail sacks from train cars.

Later, she took a job delivering mail — the first woman in the city to do so.

“When I went to the post office in 1965, I just wanted a job that paid a decent salary,” Hauser said. “I wasn’t trying to make history.”

Hauser, who carried mail until she retired in 1990, will be honored during the International Civil Rights Center & Museum’s closing celebration of women’s history later this month.

“Imagine that,” said the 80-year-old Greensboro resident.

“Miss Mail Lady,” as those on her routes frequently referred to her, spent a quarter of a century as a letter carrier, from Spring Valley to Phillips Avenue, from Battle Forest to Woodmere Park, and drop-offs in between. She retired at the age of 60.

These days, Hauser remains busy with her lifelong church St. Matthews United Methodist, senior activities and neighborhood watch.

She also is helping to plan her 64th class reunion at Dudley High School. She graduated at 16.

“The president is sick and the vice president is dead, so that puts me in charge,” said Hauser, who serves as class secretary .

Hauser marched alongside the Rev. Jesse Jackson in demonstrations in downtown Greensboro in 1963 and 1964 .

Her father, George North Purvis, who made sure all his girls got college degrees, is one of the founders of Bennett College. Hauser, who stayed in Greensboro for much of her life, spent two years at N.C. A&T and later graduated from GTCC with an associate business degree .

The museum tribute is at 4 p.m. Thursday.

Contact Nancy McLaughlin at 373-7049 or nancy.mclaughlin @news-record.com