NATCHEZ — A chapter has closed at Natchez Monument Company. Adrian Trimble retired Friday after 27 years with the company.

Trimble, 84, worked as a salesman for the company, and, according the Dave Pace, owner of Natchez Monument, Trimble was one of the best in the business.

“He is about the smoothest salesperson I’ve worked with,” Pace said. “He knows when to talk and when to sit back.”

Trimble is not only an accomplished salesperson, but he is also a proud World War II veteran.

During the war, Trimble flew 35 missions on a B-12 Bomber. He was a technical sergeant and worked as a radio operator and machine gunner. Trimble said that his time in the armed services came at a time when the enemy attacks were at their strongest.

“Back before I started flying, once you flew 25 missions you could go home,” Trimble said. “But at the time I was flying, enemy aircraft was so strong that they upped the missions to 35. I was tickled to get to come home.”

Before entering the monument business, Trimble worked in broadcasting as a teenager and in the car business for over 40 years.

He said he has enjoyed working at Natchez Monument more than any of his other ventures.

“I like the challenge. I’ve always liked a challenge,” Trimble said. “When you lick a challenge you really feel like you’ve done something.”

Dealing with a grieving family is one of the challenges Trimble has licked while working at Natchez Monument. Trimble said empathy is the key to being able to comfort a family during a difficult time.

“You want to cry with them because you really feel for them,” Trimble said. “You end up hugging them even if you don’t even know them.”

Just before coming on board at Natchez Monument, Trimble was selling monuments out of his home for Columbus Marble Works out of Columbus.

In 1980, Trimble called Pace in Brookhaven at Brookhaven Monument Company asking for a fulltime position with his company. Pace was glad to hear from Trimble because he was one of Brookhaven Monument’s biggest competitors.

But Pace couldn’t hire him right away. Trimble wasn’t aware at the time he called, but Pace was in the process of purchasing Natchez Monuments.

As soon as the deal was complete, Pace gave Trimble a key and he has been working at Natchez Monument every day since.

“It was great because at one time I got rid of two of my biggest competitors — Natchez Monuments and Adrian.”

Trimble said he was grateful that Pace gave him the chance to work at Natchez Monument because he has learned a great deal about the business.

Pace disagrees slightly because he insists that Trimble was already primed for sales before he began his tenure at Natchez Monument.

“I taught him about design but that is all,” Pace said. “He already knew how to sell. There were times that before he worked for us that he would have a monument sold before we even got a chance to make a call.”

Trimble isn’t sure what he is going to do to fill his free time just yet but his wife Joess has been thinking of things that can keep him busy.

Joess said now will be the first time the couple has been at home all day together.

“I hope we can get along spending the whole day together,” Joess joked. “It may be hard.”

She said while she is excited about the extra time she will get to spend with her husband she is a little sad to see him retire.

“I know he really enjoyed getting up and coming to work,” Joess said. “He didn’t want to quit.”

Adrian is leaving Natchez Monument because of his health.

“The good Lord told me I better retire,” Adrian said. “My health makes it kind of hard.”

It has been such a blessing working here with all these people.”

Trimble said he is going to try hard to stay home and stay retired but don’t be surprised if he shows up at the store sometimes.

“You’re not taking my key,” Trimble told Pace.