Joe Diggs of Mathews will retire as a New York Life Insurance agent June 4, after serving the company for more than 35 years.

Randy Martin of Gloucester is the successor agent and will handle his own accounts as well as those now worked by Diggs. Martin, who has been a New York Life Agent for two years, will retain the present office at 9184 Buckley Hall Road at Ward’s Corner, Mathews.

For Diggs, one of the biggest changes during his tenure was automation. When he began, all information was completed on forms, often with carbon paper.

Diggs handles life insurance and annuities. Martin offers those products, and is registered to sell stocks. Before going into the insurance field, both Diggs and Martin worked at Newport News Shipbuilding.

In retirement, Diggs said he plans to go fishing and plans some travel.

Diggs and his wife, Beverly, have two daughters and six grandchildren.

Martin’s wife, Jaye, is a nurse anesthetist at several Sentara facilities in South H...