McGEHEE – Fran White Childress celebrated her 38th year with First Natural State Bank with a simple group text to all the bank’s employees on her anniversary.
She said in the text she “..was grateful for her almost four decades on the job and to all the employees whom she “considers as her family.”
She is the longest tenured employee of the bank.
By Maylon Rice
Saline River Chronicle Feature Contributor
The former Warren native was then honored by the bank with an ad in the local newspaper, and by the local newspaper with a feature story on her many accomplishments, promotions and innovations to banking in Desha County, since being hired as a secretary back in 1986.
Jim Daniels, the CEO of First National State Bank, praised Childress, noting her recent employment anniversary.
“Fran’s dedication and commitment for the past 38 years is an inspiration to us all. She has been a model of consistency and loyalty during her tenure.”
Both Childress and Daniels made sure everyone knows, she’s “still at the bank and has no immediate plans on retirement.”
Joining the bank in 1986 as a secretary for the late Fred Denton, the founding president of what was then First National Bank of McGehee, Childress has held such positions as Senior Vice President, head of IT, and Administrator of operations.
The bank honored Childress’ anniversary by naming her a “Home Town Hero,” and placing a large print advertisement in the local newspaper.
Newspapers are a large part of Fran Childress’s DNA. She is the daughter of the late James P. White and Marion Love Byrd, both deceased. While growing up in Warren, was the granddaughter of the Rev. James Epp and Salie White and Wilmer Leonard Love and Leona Misch Love, who were the publishers of the Eagle Democrat for decades. When the Love’s retired, James P. White, Oscar Littlefield and Bob Newton were the management of the newspaper.
Fran moved to McGehee to be near her dad, the late James P. White Sr., who along with the late Mark Avery, were the publishers of the McGehee/Dermott Time-News. After their retirement, Fran’s brother Jim White ran the newspaper until retiring to become the McGehee Chief of Police. Fran’s two younger Siblings, Tom White of Monticello, is a newspaper publisher and Ann White Callison, is a housewife in Benton.
Childress’ the widow of the late Roger Childress, has two sons, Shane and Josh. Shane passed away in 2018. Josh and his wife Brandi, live in Little Rock with Fran’s two grandchildren, Piper, 11, and Jack, 7.