Jacksonville native Susan Mullin grew up along Pearl Street, attended local schools and remembers visiting Friendship Fountain in the 1960s to watch the water changing colors.
Mullin has been working near that Southbank attraction for about 40 years and has spent the bulk of it as the parking garage attendant at Riverplace Tower.
“Not very many people can say they love their job,” she said. “I get to say hello and goodbye to all these happy people.”
Mullin took a job at the former Gulf Life Insurance Co. and worked as a registrar on the 11th floor of what was called the Gulf Life Tower.
She recalls a conversation with her boss, who had an office. “I said, ‘One day I am going to have my own office,’” Mullin said. “And here it is.”
She gained that “office” when she realized the Gulf Life jobs were leaving after a company merger. She applied and was given the parking garage job. She said a lot of her friends weren’t so lucky.
“Miss Sue,” as she’s called, works weekdays in the parking booth, handling tickets and greeting patrons of the 765-space garage that serves the 28-story tower.
She works for Gate Riverplace Co., part of Gate Petroleum Co., which bought the tower in 1993.
Mullin, who is divorced, had one son, who died six years ago of leukemia at the age of 34.
“These things happen in life and you just have to keep going,” she said. She refers to him as “my sweet love.”
Mullin also has had a front-row view of activities, such as the 2004 hostage situation at the Rogers Towers offices in the tower. “I was sitting right here,” she said.
People ask with surprise sometimes if she’s still with the garage. “Yes, I’m still here. After all these years, I’m still here,” she said.
“It’s a very cordial, happy, friendly job.”
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