7 minute read
Lost And Found
from June 2020
by Rhonda Lane
Ihave no sense of direction. None. I point, I position, and I ponder trying to figure out the difference between
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North and South and East and West to no avail. I do have a sense of gravity, however, so at least I can tell up from down.
My father was the complete opposite. A former telephone company lineman with an inborn sense of direction who had traveled thousands of miles of city streets and country roads for his job, his recipe for navigation was
simply to “follow your nose” with possibly the addition of a free filling station map for long trips. (Once unfolded, that map could never be refolded properly again.) He was our family’s own personal OnStar. He never led us astray.
Our shared mileage was accompanied by stories and tales of his experiences in all the little nooks and crannies and wide places in the roads of Whitfield County and Murray County, especially the beloved Murray County of his youth. I listened to his stories with interest and reflection, but how I wish I had memorized every word, every letter of every word, every dot of every letter I and every cross of a letter T.
My first remembrance of Father’s Day was of being driven through the outer bands of Hurricane Agnes in 1972 on my way to Disney World. I was subsequently delivered safely to the doors of a Mickey Mouse kingdom by the mercy of the Creator of a Heavenly Kingdom through the hands of my prince on earth, my father.
In the ways of the world and in reading people, he was my own personal North Star. When life knocked me off my path, or someone pushed me off, he was there to set me back in the right direction again, referencing the map he had gained from the school of hard knocks.
No matter where we are in life, with or without an unfoldable map, we can count on GPS. I don’t mean the Global Positioning System: I mean God’s Positioning System. He is, after all, the One who drew the map of the universe. He is the One who wrote the directions to His own heart through His Holy Word.
He knows where we are in life at any moment. He knows where our mind is even when it wanders. He knows where our heart is even when it moves far away from him.
When we come to a crossroads and don’t know which way to go, God does. When our enemy pushes us off our path, God can set us back on the right path. When we can’t fold our map back to the way it should be, God can. When God drives our lives, we never end up at the wrong destination. It will never be a Mickey Mouse kingdom but a Heavenly one.
Let God be your North Star. He will never lead you astray. With Him, you will always know up from down.
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Three convenient locatons to serve you:
706-226-7417 514 Fleming St, Ste 4
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706-866-5557
890 Battlefield Pkwy FT. OGLETHORPE
706-695-4823
1422 Green Rd, Ste J CHATSWORTH
All loan terms and applicable APR’s depend on meeting our underwriting and income criteria for the loan size requested and may require collateral. Active duty military, their spouse or dependents covered by the Military Lending Act (“MLA”) may not pledge a vehicle as collateral. 1 st Franklin Financial Corporation, NMLS #141654, Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee #5656.
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1st Franklin Financial: A Personal Loan Company That Puts People First
1st Franklin Financial Corporation has been making loans for more than 79 years, and whether the need for extra money is an urgent one for today or one that’s ahead, 1st Franklin is there when you need them.
“Whatever your needs are, we are here to work with you to find the right loan with a payment plan that fits your life. Life is a journey and we are here to do it side by side with you,” said President and CEO Ginger Herring. “We will treat you with respect and promise to give you the kind of personal, friendly service you won’t find anywhere else.”
Headquartered in Toccoa, Georgia, the business operates more than 320 branch loan offices located in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. Founded by Herring’s grandfather, Ben F. Cheek, Jr., in 1941, the company remains family-owned and operated, staying true to its values while growing in loans-made and dollarsloaned year after year. This long-term success is attributed in 1st Franklin Financial’s strong foundation and commitment to the communities it serves along with its unwavering financial stability. 1st Franklin Financial has served in this area of North Georgia for more than 30 years. Chatsworth, Dalton and Fort Oglethorpe branches are currently operating under the leadership of Regional Operations Director Kim Golka and Operations Vice President Jennifer Purser.
The Chatsworth branch opened in 1988 and is located at 1422 Green Road; phone 706-695-4823. The Branch Manager is Jan Cross. Cross has been with the company since 2011. She started her career with 1st Franklin at the Dalton branch.
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The Dalton branch opened in 1995 and is located at 514 Fleming Street, Suite 4; phone 706-226-7417. The Branch Manager is Mandy McClain. McClain has been with the company since 2002, and under her management, the Dalton branch won 1st Franklin Financial’s Vice President’s Award for outstanding performance and the Diamond Pacesetter Award for 2018. The Diamond Pacesetter Award is given every year to the branch that also achieves high statistical rankings in the company based on current performance as well as future profitability.
The Fort Oglethorpe branch opened in 2013 and is located at 890 Battlefield Pkwy; phone 706-866-5557. The Branch Manager is Kimberly Stone. Stone has been with the company since 2014.
All three branches are highly immersed in their communities, participating as active members of the Chamber of Commerce and supporting local schools. Affectionately known as the “friendly Franklin folks,” 1st Franklin’s employees aim to make lasting connections within the community and with every individual that walks through their doors. personalized service. The company offers fixed rate loans from $1,250 to $15,000* with flexible terms to suit any budget.
Committed to providing friendly, professional service, 1st Franklin branch employees take pride in making sure that each customer receives prompt, *All loan terms and applicable APR’s depend on meeting our underwriting and income criteria for the loan size requested and may require collateral. Active duty military, their spouse or dependents covered by the Military Lending Act (“MLA”) may not pledge a vehicle as collateral. 1st Franklin Financial Corporation, NMLS#141654, Georgia Mortgage Licensee #5656. Loan minimums vary by state.
Customers are more than a credit score. Even with an imperfect history, 1st Franklin works to find the right loan solution that’s right for each customer. Approvals are fast and done right at the branch so customers can get their money quickly, often in the same day.
Additionally, through 1st Franklin’s Sales Finance partners, each branch has dealer relationships throughout its surrounding areas, which enables customers to finance a purchase through select retailers with a 1st Franklin Financial loan up to $25,000 with 3, 6, 12 and 24-month Same as Cash programs through select retailers.
To find out more about 1st Franklin’s Sales Finance Program or to find a loan solution that’s right for you, contact the Chatsworth branch at 706-695-4823, the Dalton branch at 706-226-7417 or the Fort Oglethorpe branch at 706-866-5557 or visit www.1ffc.com, to find the branch closest to you.
