As she sat in a hushed, empty conference room at Sacred Heart Cultural Center, the smiling, affable 65-year-old woman hardly seemed capable of barking out instructions to a horde of people, much less operating a forklift.
But Pearlene Franklin has done so throughout her adult life, albeit in different capacities.
After working in a Procter & Gamble warehouse for more than two decades, Ms. Franklin found her second calling as a Disaster Services Human Resource volunteer for the American Red Cross in 1984. She now works for the Augusta chapter, which has offices attached to Sacred Heart.
Ms. Franklin said her desire to give back to others was shaped during her early teens, when her New Jersey house burned to the ground, leaving her family homeless. She was separated from her six younger siblings, who were placed in children's homes.
"I know what it's like to lose everything you have," she said. "I want to help those who feel like they have nothing left."
Whether passing out diapers or securing transportation, she has come to the aid of victims of severe winter storms and tornadoes, among other catastrophes. Her forklift skills from Proctor & Gamble come in handy when she moves supply pallets around a disaster scene.
She described hurricanes in Florida where the ground was so soggy tractor- trailers dipped into the earth. However, the events of Sept. 11, 2001, continue to resonate with her more than any other disaster. She stayed at ground zero for nearly six months.
Ms. Franklin said one image stays with her to this day - ash.
"Whenever I see those firefighters (on TV) covered in that ash, it's too much," she said. "I have to turn it off."
When Ms. Franklin responded to Hurricane Katrina, she said she left after two days because the situation reminded her too much of Sept. 11.
"Words can't describe something like that," she said.
Despite her reaction, Ms. Franklin said she thinks she'll be able to handle similar circumstances in the future.
"I'd remove myself from the situation and keep my emotions in check," she said.
She may not drive forklifts much longer, but Ms. Franklin said she will continue to volunteer.
"I'll do this until the day I die," she said.
Reach Brian Hughes at (706) 823-3339 or brian.hughes@augustachronicle.com.
PEARLENE FRANKLIN
Age: 65
Occupation: Red Cross volunteer
Family: Late husband, Ronald Franklin; daughters, Rebecca and Lauren Franklin; sons, Joseph, Kenneth and Ronald Franklin Jr.
Quote: "I know what it's like to lose everything you have. I want to help those who feel like they have nothing left."
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