CALL 910.237-1424

Freeman's Florist blooms again in same location

It took two years. But after a long and stressful “drama” with the town’s ordinances and zoning regulations, Arthur and LaRonda Freeman reopened Freeman’s Florist and Greenhouse on Jan. 13.

The couple had been selling plants from a backyard tent and, on occasion, from the back of a refrigerated truck since fire destroyed the original building on Jan. 8, 2005. Now full floral service is available again to customers.

“We never even thought it would take that long,” said LaRonda Freeman.

“I was beginning to feel like one of the Israelites.”

They thought, at the most, it would take four months to rebuild their floral franchise.

“We know that someone — God — has blessed us,” Mr. Freeman said.

Freeman’s Florist has been in business in Spring Lake since October 1984, after the Freemans attended Hixson’s School of Floral Design in Lakewood, Ohio.

Saving money the old fashion way

allows us to pass it to our customers!

We cut our prices for you by heating our greenhouses with wood! All it takes is a lot of donated wood, a chain saw, a log splitter and lots of hard work.

The two met as seniors while standing in a line at N.C. A&T University in Greensboro.

Mrs. Freeman has family roots in Spring Lake. A great-great-grandfather owned land off Vass Road as far back as 1895, and she’s related to former Spring Lake Mayor Marvin Lucas. Arthur Freeman, a humble, whiskered fellow, is originally from the Acme-Delco and Riegelwood area of eastern Columbus County. He grew up about five miles from where the tornado struck Riegelwood in mid-November.

Mr. Freeman said the two of them never considered starting over at another location. The business remains on Lillington Highway.

Their faith and the support of friends, family and customers helped them through.

We can smile now,” he said. “All the tears are gone.” LaRonda and Arthur Freeman shared a joke in their new florist shop. The Freemans reopened their shop, Freeman’s Florist and Greenhouse, more than two years after the original shop burned.

This article is from the

FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER AND TIMES

SPRING LAKE, N.C. (AP) -- The owners of a flower shop that burned down last month labored under a rented white tent Monday to fill Valentine's Day orders, many from Fort Bragg soldiers serving in Iraq.

There was no

way we were going to let them down

said LaRonda Freeman,

co-owner of Freeman's Florist.

There was the opportunity to be bitter over the situation or to choose God’s way. His way is always best. We stepped back and watched God work. Because of faith and prayers, we have made it.

I thank you for your prayers because I know that your prayers and ours are the ONLY reason that we are standing here today.

It is very important to us that we take the time to honor and praise God, and to give Him all the Glory! Thank you God!

This is not about business today. I want to ask you to accept Jesus Christ as your savior. Forget about worldly possessions. When you honor God with all your heart, He will richly bless you!

And when you say that you have faith, please mean it with all your heart, for God may want to test you!

Please use our misfortune as an example of how things may look; like there is no hope when the odds are totally against you.

With your faith, just believe in God and all things are possible.

Thank you,

Arthur Freeman

January 2007

Two years and one week ago, we had a fire that destroyed all that we owned. Sometimes in life, things happen that we do not understand. That is when you must have faith and depend on God even more. For He is the guiding light that you can depend on.

In time, we tried to regroup and get on with our lives. But so many roadblocks were put in our way. When we realized what was happening, we asked for your prayers. While we were thankful for offers of donations, the continued support of all of you lifted us time and time again. The situation was one that money could not solve.

What has been so amazing was to see delays, roadblocks and frustrations turned around! To see how God was changing things and blessing us to move forward.

©Copyright 2009 Freeman’s Florist and Greenhouse. All rights reserved.