When BB&T comes to a town, the bank has every intention of being a caring community partner. For a while, folks in Brundidge had their doubts.

The bank clock that had provided the community with the time and temperature for more than 30 years was removed and replaced with a BB&T logo sign.

That upset folks.

So, the bank’s Clock Watching and Coffee Drinking Society penned a letter of “displeasure” and sent it along to the BB&T corporate office with nearly 100 signatures.

“It was not a petition. We just wanted BB&T to know that the clock was a part of our community and that so many people depended on it,” said Richard Chapman, society member. “We wanted to express out displeasure in its removal.”

The society didn’t know what to expect, if anything but, a short time after the letter had been mailed, a clock display was up and in operation.”

In appreciation, the clock watchers and coffee drinks sent at heartfelt “Thank You” on behalf of the entire Brundidge community.

“Thank you for putting the new time and temperature display in operation so quickly,” the note read. “All comments to date have been most favorable. Word of the new sign had spread through the town before the installation was complete.”

The note was signed by the Brundidge Clock Watching and Coffee Drinking Club.

Linda Dansby, Brundidge financial center leader, said many people have expressed appreciation to BB&T for replacing the time and temperature display.

“I don’t know what BB&T could have done that would have pleased more people,” she said with a smile.

Susan Lewis, BB&T financial center leader from the Village Office in Pinehurst, North Carolina, said the clock was not the first that BB&T has placed, but it was the first that the bank has replaced in response to the wishes of a community.

The positive response to the wishes of the Brundidge townspeople was a continuation of BB&T’s Lighthouse Project.

“At the time when so many people in our nation need hope and encouragement, BB&T employees helped answer those needs in 2009 with its inaugural Lighthouse Project,” Lewis said. “BB&T employees donated nearly 53,000 volunteer hours to help our communities and improve lives in 25 states across the nation.”’

Lighthouse Projects have included purchasing playground equipment for a homeless shelter in West Virginia, items for a recreation room for children with Spina Bifida in Kentucky and survival kits of food and hygiene products for kids in North Carolina. Through the Lighthouse Project, improvements have been made at a Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club in North Carolina. An East New York Farms mural, which promotes healthy eating, has been restored.

“BB&T is looking forward to being a community partner in the Brundidge area and initiating our Lighthouse Project here,” Lewis said.