Freeman’s Florist in Randleman turns 40; here’s the story of how it all began

A toddler goes missing from a visitation room at an area funeral home and was eventually located in another viewing room down the hall. The toddler would stop and look at each floral design from bottom to top, a funeral director told Talmadge and Marie Freeman, who wasn’t too happy with their son.

Even as a child he made Playdough roses by hand that some in the family still have. Several years later they came home to find him selling plants in old Campbell Soup cans by the roadway or pulling his wagon to various neighbors. One time he had his wagon loaded with daises from the fields around the home.

They soon realized his passion and talents in the floral sector continued to bloom, and through middle school and high school, Jeff Freeman wrote the same paper: I want to own my own business, flowers, plants or something related.

Every year, same paper and even doodled or sketched a downtown area with a group of businesses.

Upon graduating Randleman High School in 1983, Freeman went to Randolph Community College and earned a two-year degree in Floral design / Commercial horticulture, graduating in 1985. He worked at various jobs through high school and college from an accountant, funeral home and florist.

Freeman’s plan was to be in business by the time he turned 35 but he says God had different plans. A local friend and businesswoman called to tell Freeman the Randleman Store Company was closing, after 107 years, and they were going to sell the building, and the friend thought it would make for a great florist location.

So Freeman called area realtor James Coble and indeed they had just talked the day before to list the building at 101 N. Main Street in Randleman. Freeman said he wanted the building, but no one would budge in many months of back and forth negotiations (the owners lived in Florida).

Coble said they might need to list it since no one was willing to compromise. That night, Freeman said he went home and prayed a prayer that if it was meant to be, God had to make it happen: “You gave me the talent, you have given an opportunity, but I have done all I can do, if not give me the grace to understand and I will move on. Amen,” he said.

A few weeks later coming in from RCC, the phone rang, and Coble told Freeman you are not going to believe this but the owner called from Florida and decided to take you up on your offer. 

Freeman, 18 at the time, went to Randleman Savings and Loan to get a loan and they said they couldn’t do it, they only did home, home equity and construction loans. The problem was that RS&L was the only place Freeman had banked all his life. After diplomatic discussions with manager Nora Holland, Freeman was told to fill out the papers and Holland would go before the board with no guarantees. As far as Freeman knows, he was the first commercial loan the bank did. 

Freeman said he could not have done it without Randleman Savings and Loan, and after they were sold and eventually closed after over 100 years, Freeman was the last customer that day. 

Not knowing what he was going to do, he held on to the building a few months. Then the pieces started falling into place and at the age of 19 on April 15, 1986, Freeman’s Florist & Gifts opened to serve Randleman and Randolph County.

Freeman says he has been blessed and is thankful for his customers, many generational. “Without customers, you have no business,” he said. 

Freeman stays active in the community serving on many board and committees as well as state organizations like the NC State Florist Association where he has served as a past president, the NC Festival & Events and the Carolinas Chamber Association of Executives. He also serves as director of the Randleman Chamber. Freeman was called into the ministry 30 years ago and did various care facilities, guest speaking and recently pastored a church in Montgomery County for 19 years.

At the store’s grand opening, with Randleman Mayor Lib Swaim cutting the navy ribbon, many local businesses attended, but two stick out:

■ Sherrill Shaw asked Freeman, “What are you doing here?” Freeman said, “This is home.” Shaw said he knew that, but “with your talent, you could go to Atlanta or New York and do far better.” Freeman said Shaw was a great customer and friend, and Freeman was asked to speak at his funeral. 

■ Walter Gibson, who was with Pfeiffer University, said, “Son, they will tell you it takes a year to make it, it will take you longer, but don’t give up, you will be here a long time.”

In the 40 years since, Freeman was awarded Designer of Year for North Carolina in 2010, and Freeman’s Florist & Gifts was honored as Florist of the Year for North Carolina, also in 2010. Representing North Carolina, he was also a runner-up in the National Designer of the Year Competition held in Ohio in 2010. He was a Harwood cup winner in 2008 for Southern Retail Florist Association and also runner up in their Designer of the Year Competition and was Winner of the Greensboro Triad Florist Association DOY in 2007-08. Awards for specialty competitions like headdress, body flowers, boutineers, centerpiece and others followed, and he decorated the furniture market for over 12 years with plants and fresh floral designs.

Asked about his favorite design work, Freeman said, “All of them, but I take great honor is doing casket sprays for families. It is the last thing a family member can do for their loved one and they trust Freeman’s to take care of it. Flowers are important for a funeral, they are sent a to visitation to memorialize the deceased and show love to the family, at the service, they are there to comfort the family as they prepare to lay their loved one to rest and at the burial to cover the raw ground a body is placed, so the family doesn’t have to look at it, then of course they fade because their purpose has been fulfilled. That is something money can’t do.”

A young guy came in to order for a friend whose mother had died and his comment was, “I never sent flowers, but when my mother died a few months ago,

if it wasn’t for your flowers, I would never have made it through the service, I didn’t realize how important they were, but I do now.” 

“That is what makes my job, helping people through their dark moments but also their joys, celebrations and ‘just because’ moments. I love to create and make things special.”

Over the years, Freeman’s has had many employees, some who are deceased now, family and friends but their talents and dedication will not be forgotten. “Especially my parents, who worked 8 hours, got off work and came to help at the florist. At first, they were not happy about me opening a business at 19, they wanted me to start at home, but I said, ‘If you are going to do something — do it right from the beginning.’ They were very proud of our accomplishments because I couldn’t have done it alone.”

In celebration of 40 years, Freeman is inviting customers to stop buy and say hello and register for some prizes to be given away through the month of May. There will be a few other surprises throughout the year as well. 

Future plans? Freeman stated he hoped he could be like the florist in Texas, who at 99 still worked a few days a week and ran an occasional delivery because he enjoyed it. 

“I appreciate every family and customer we have served,” he said. “We are not perfect, but we do strive for excellence and ‘never underestimate the power of flowers.’ ”