END OF AN ERA
Rocker, Becton leave Regions Bank
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

Sandy Becton and Kirk Rocker are shown prior to their departure from Regions Bank last week. A portrait of Watson Rocker, Kirk's father and former president of the Bank of Millen, is shown in the background. Kirk and Sandy were the only remaining employees of Regions Bank who were originally employed with the Bank of Millen. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett)

An era in local banking came to a close last week with the departure of Kirk Rocker and Sandy Becton from Regions Bank as the company implemented cutbacks in its Commercial Loan Department. They were the only remaining employees at Regions who were originally employed with the former Bank of Millen.

Kirk came to work at the Bank of Millen upon graduation from college, following in the footsteps of his father, Watson Rocker, former president of the Bank of Millen. His interest in the banking business, however, began much earlier in life. Kirk recalls that as a youth he emptied trash cans, swept the floor and got the mail for the Bank of Millen.

"It has been my privilege to serve the Millen/Jenkins County's Banking community for the last 23 years. I began my banking career in January 1985 after graduating from the University of Georgia. I began as a teller and worked my way up to the President. During that time, I worked for the Bank of Millen, Allied Bankshares, Inc and Regions Bank," said Kirk.

Banking is also the only business that Sandy has known. She came to work with the original Bank of Millen upon graduation from Swainsboro Technical College and has been there since, providing service to the citizens of Jenkins County for over 29 years.

"My banking career started in 1978 upon graduation from Accounting/ Secretarial at Swainsboro Tech. I was approached by Mr. Watson Rocker, then president of the Bank of Millen, between Sunday School and church one Sunday morning. He asked what I was planning to do now that I was out of school. I told him that I needed to be working at the bank. He told me to come by the next day. That began a 29½ year career in banking. My first position was typist. Later, I began processing loans, taking payments, teller work, clerical work and bookkeeping work. You name it. In the early bank years, everybody helped with all the jobs, and everybody stayed until all the work was done. In later years, I became Assistant Vice President and eventually became the first female Vice President of the Bank of Millen and was administrative assistant to Mr. Watson Rocker, Leonard Herrington, and finally, Kirk Rocker. My last title was Senior Commercial Banker. Those 29½ years were great years and I enjoyed my work tremendously. I've always had great co-workers who supported me in my personal life as well as my professional life," said Sandy.

While both Kirk and Sandy expressed regret at the change their lives have taken, they remain optimistic about the future and grateful for the years they spent serving the citizens of Jenkins County and Millen.

"I would like to take a minute to thank the people that were very influential in my banking career - Watson Rocker, Johnny Johnson, Boone Knox, Jimmy Rigsby, Tat Thompson and Leonard Herrington. At some point in my career, I served under each of these bankers. As I move on to another opportunity, I would say the highlights of my career would be helping people accomplish their dreams, a young couple building or buying their first home, a business owner building a new business or someone buying their first car," said Kirk.

"I've enjoyed serving the great people of Jenkins County, and surrounding counties during these years. I believe that when the Lord closes one door, he opens another door of opportunity and I look forward with anticipation to that new chapter in my life," commented Sandy.