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A few years ago, Corey Faulkner admits he wasn’t in a good place in his life. However, that has changed immensely over the last decade and he credits two decisions — giving his life to Christ and moving to LaGrange.

Faulkner, 39, was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina. He was bullied from a young age, which he said led to low self-esteem and a life of drugs, alcohol, jail and suicidal thoughts. 

“When I truly gave my life to Christ and moved away from South Carolina to LaGrange, that is when my life turned around in a positive direction,” Faulkner said. “LaGrange made me feel welcome, it made me feel at home, it made me feel as if I was someone worthy of life, and it helped me find myself and determine who I should be. So next to our Lord Jesus Christ saving me, I say LaGrange saved me.”

Now, Faulkner is doing a lot to give back to the community he now calls home. 

He owns and operates CedarCross Media, LLC, a full-scale video production/marketing company, and he’s a part-owner of Elite Outreach, a fundraising and event holding company that works with both nonprofits and for-profit companies. 

He’s a board member with communities in schools, and the Boys and Girls Club of West Georgia. Faulkner will also soon be announced as the president elect for the Kiwanis Club of LaGrange. On top of that, he’s a committee member for Twin Cedars, was a committee member for the Four Hundred Year Journey and serves as a diplomat for the Troup County Chamber of Commerce. 

Faulkner has been married for 17 years and has two kids, ages 20 and 22. 

He started CedarCross Media as a hobby in 2011 but it developed into a full business in 2015. 

“My passion for telling other people’s stories, being a major contributor to our amazing community, loving people, loving every fabric of our amazing community, and helping clients grow their business. It is what drives me every day,” Faulkner said. “… My story is what makes me who I am today. I don’t let it hold me back or feel ashamed of it, I let it drive me to be better daily.”

-Story by Daniel Evans, photo by Jenna Oden