Remembering Griggs Grocery

With Daniel Franks

Daniel Franks stands in front of his childhood home, a few feet behind the former Griggs Grocery store.

Meet Daniel Franks. He and his family have lived in Poe Mill his whole life (over 40 years!). He loves Griggs Church. He was baptized here, married here, and was close with David Griggs and the whole family. I (Pastor Mitch) asked him a handful of questions about our church, the community, and the old Griggs Grocery store, and he was kind enough to answer and give us an incredible perspective on our history and neighborhood life.

How long have you and your family lived in Poe Mill? What’s been your family history when it comes to the mill?

I can stand on my porch and see every house my family lived in before buying our current house, which we bought from Mrs. Griggs.

My dad, Danny Franks, grew up in Poe Mill. My mother’s aunt lived in Poe Mill, and that’s how my dad met my mother. My daddy always said he would leave the mill hill when his toes were turned up. He passed away in June 2020. I feel the same way he did.

My grandfather went to the old Poe Mill Elementary School. 

Poe Mill is made up of many families like mine that have generational history in the neighborhood and still live here to this day.

How would you describe Poe Mill? What has changed about it over time? What has never changed?

I will say that when you need someone or something done, we all tend to lend a helping hand.

Today, a lot of the old mill houses are being upgraded. They’re more modern now.

I would be disappointed in myself if I didn’t tell a story about Mrs. Tinsley, who lived on the corner of 7th Ave. I struck up a friendship with her in middle school. Mrs. Tinsley would invite me for lunch during the summer when school was out. She would always say that she thought the neighborhood kids in the ’90s were nicer than the neighborhood kids of the ’70s.

Once I asked her why she said that, and she told me a story of two teens putting something very unpleasant in a bag and burning it on her porch.

Later I told my dad about the story, and to my surprise he said, “Son, that was me and Steve Garrett!”

In your own words, who was David Griggs?

David Griggs was one of the great men at Victory Baptist Church (before it was called Griggs). Mr. Griggs was a man who took on many traits. He would work on the rental properties he and his wife owned throughout Poe Mill. He’d always lend a helping hand at his grocery store, too.

What are some of your memories of him?

When it came to church, Mr. Griggs took on the role of choir director. I would be so excited when he would have us turn to my favorite song—page 333, I’ll Fly Away. Mr. Griggs would always check on me during the week. I remember going to the Griggs Grocery Store, and he would give me a Chocolate Soldier drink, a bag of Moore’s Ripple Barbecue chips, and a pack of peanut butter cheese crackers.

And they say behind every great man is a great woman. Mrs. Griggs was a sweetheart. I can remember sitting with her at church while Lil Fred, Robby, and Chad sat in the back row. They tried to get me to sit with them, but I didn’t because I was sitting with Mrs. Griggs, who was giving me chewing gum and candy for being good.

You lived right next to Griggs Grocery Store. What are some of your memories of the store itself?

Back in the 1980s, my daddy brought home $52 a week when he was employed by Piedmont Industries, which sat on the corner of the neighborhood. The rent back then was $30 a week.

Mama and Daddy would take the rest and go to Griggs Grocery to get hand-cut meats and fresh produce. The entire community knew they would be treated with kindness and charged a decent price while shopping at Griggs Grocery.

How have you seen Griggs Church live up to its name and continue the legacy of David Griggs?

Griggs Church has continued to put people first while leading them to grow spiritually. Roger and Arlinda Sexton have provided help to so many families in the neighborhood throughout the years, especially during the holidays.

The implementation of the summer program at Griggs helps our children reach for the stars. David Griggs would be so proud of the path the church is taking in his namesake.