Community Highlights: Meet Charonne Franisco of Lawson Transportation Services

Today we’d like to introduce you to Charonne Franisco.

Hi Charonne, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

I was born in Richmond, VA. My parents were Rita Carter and Frank Franisco. I was an only child raised by my mother and grandmother. That means that I was spoiled rotten. I had all of the latest Ken and Barbie dolls. My cousins would come over to play but have very limited access to only the dolls that I would allow them to play with. Lol. My childhood was fun and exciting. Back then, family would get together on Friday and Saturday with all of your cousins, aunts, and uncles. They would drink, dance, and cut up. The children would go outside until the street lights came on. We would ride our bikes across the city from North, South, East, and West. My childhood was fun and exciting.

In middle school, I met a group of friends that would last until this day. My mom and dad decided to get married and my life was one of a two-parent household. What I also didn’t know at the time was that my family had secrets. This was the first time that I was introduced to physical abuse. My dad would get angry at times and hit my mother. This is my introduction to domestic violence and I would learn what discipline was. I became a good student because I had a fear of getting in trouble and facing my dad. He was a loving dad and provider, he just had anger issues.

I attended John Marshall High School and found a love for track. I was a part of the Cross county team and the track team. I participated in several events: long and triple jump, high jump, and the mile relay. I found a love for the 100 and 300 meter hurdles. I competed and placed in several events throughout the region and state track meets. I also set a school record in the 300 hurdles. My love for running released me for the things that I face at home. Remember I said family secrets. Well, my family was plagued with the disease of addiction. You name it, they had it. As a child watching this not having a name for it. Society says someone is high/drunk or they are always like that. Society would say oh they are just fine. Never really knowing what or how deep it was. I graduated high school in June 1988. At the time, my mom and dad had divorced and this was one of the happiest times in my life. I was off to college, my mom was safe and things appeared to be normal.

I attended Virginia State University for a short while and became pregnant with my first daughter. I returned home and gained my 1st employment at the Richmond Marriott for the next seven years. I cannot explain the joy that I felt of bringing a new life into this world. I had a love for God but never a relationship with him.This for me was a new way of living. I had a daughter and lived at home so that meant I had in house babysitters. I continued working and met a gentleman that became my husband. From this union, my second daughter was conceived and born on July 13, 1996. Remember, my family had secrets. I would soon learn that my dad and mother had the disease of addition and trickled down to me in many forms. I experienced this for many years and later became clean and sober. I started journaling in 1996 as a way to share and express my thoughts and feelings. This was my healing to a new way of life. We moved from Virginia to New York in 1998 for about one year and later moved to Fla in 1999 and this has been my home ever since. I truly have overcome many obstacles that lead to me writing my 1st book From Sundown to Sunup. I love God and share an intimate relationship with him. If and only if it had not been for him on my side, I would not be here today. The love that he has for me gives me comfort and an unspeakably joy that is indescribable. I never envisioned myself as an author, but I desired to leave a legacy for my children and grandchildren. For most of my life, I never envisioned myself as being the mother of two HBCU graduates, a college graduate, wife, business owner, Director of youth ministry, member of prayer ministry, author, license signing agent, mentor, and the daughter of a King. This took me by surprise. I am stunned by the transformation that God has done for a wretch like me. Not truly seeing past the substance that I consumed and the drunkard that I became. God’s grace is all that we need. From Sundown to Sunup is my story.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

It has not been a smooth process. Some of the struggles are finding the right information beyond the internet. For example finding a mentor that will tell you the highs, the lows and the truth.

We’ve been impressed with Lawson Transportation Services LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

My business is a transportation service and is licensed for funeral transport. We provide transportation locally and provide in and out of state transportation.

What sets us apart? There is minimal competition in the funeral industry. Also, there is demand that you don’t hear about in your day to day conversation. I would like readers to know that we do provide transportation to the community for a cheaper rate than Uber or Lyft.

We also can provide small pet transportation locally,  out of state.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

I am a new first-time published author. My book is From Sun Down to Sun Up available through Amazon. My book is a collection of journal entries that will encourage, inspire, and motivate you when life seems to be a dead end.

I have multiple businesses to date. My first business was Our Time 2 Clean LLC. This was a small cleaning business. My current business is Signing and Seal Notary Services LLC and Lawson Transportation Services LLC. I first started my journey as a notary began when I was an emergency shelter caseworker at The Rescue Outreach Mission in Sanford, Florida. Many people needed different documents notarized for various reasons. I worked with the homeless population, and many did not have money or access to many resources. My director at the time asked if I was interested in becoming a notary for the mission and to provide a free service to the community. I said yes. I never knew how many services or opportunities that becoming a notary could provide throughout the state and country. I then began providing mobile services in the surrounding counties and later went on to become a signing agent. It is a fulfilling job and great responsibility. I enjoy every person that I encounter and provide them with a service that can be life-changing.

Lawson Transportation Services LLC. was created June, 2021. The journey began February 16, 2021 when my grandmother passed away. The nursing home used DeGusipe Funeral Home and Crematory to remove my grandmother. The next day I received a call from the funeral home and spoke with a gentleman named David. David was the funeral director at the time and assisted us through this trying time. My family is from Richmond, Virginia and my grandmother always said that she wanted to be taken back home to be buried. We spoke with David and he made the necessary arrangements with the airline. As the time came close to the funeral transport, we ran into an issue. I asked David what our options were. I then asked David well can we take her. He said yes. David made the necessary arrangements with the receiving funeral. We then rented a van and took my grandmother home.

Once we arrived 720 miles and 12hrs later at the funeral home, I said granny you are home. I walk in and speak with the receptionist. I say to her, I am here to drop off a body. She said WHAT!! Where?? I said in the back of the van. She then went to get another employee in disbelief and he asked the same question. Next, we were instructed what to do next. We were introduced to the funeral Director named Marlo Waller. He spoke with us and encouraged us about removal and providing this service for families in Florida. GOD planted the seed, we fertilized and saturated the soil that birthed Lawson Transportation Services LLC.

Pricing:

• From Sun Down to Sun Up. Available on Amazon.com  $15.00
• Mobile notary service $25
• Transport service start at $1.00 per mile

Contact Info:

• Email: sunuptosundown1217@gmail.com
• Instagram: @sundowntosunup
• Email: lawsontranspotationservices@gmail.com

Image Credits
From Sun Down to Sun Up book signing NOVEMBER 26,2021 Pictures Jerlissa Washington. New Hope Baptist Church. Hope Fest Nov 13, 2021 PICTURES CHARONNE FRANISCO