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EDITOR’S NOTE: In recognition of Black History Month, The LaGrange Daily News is writing stories on Black owned businesses in Troup County. 

For over 16 years, Bikel Frenelle has made a name for herself as the owner of Bikel Frenelle Realty.

“I started with Century 21 when I decided I wanted to branch out and make my own company,” Frenelle said.  “I was out on West Point Road, in one of the little storage suites when they decided to build KIA. It was then I thought to myself, ‘maybe it’s a great idea to move downtown.’ My mom worked at the bank across the street and was getting ready to retire. It felt like fate. I’ve been here on Bull Street since 2007.”

Frenelle is a 25-year certified real estate broker who specializes in residential, land, small commercial and foreclosure services.

“When I purchased my first home in 1996, I was 26 years old. Back then, we had books, we didn’t have the computers, where we could go online and look at houses like everybody else does today,” Frenelle said. “When I started looking with the agent, I took note of how the process went and said to myself, ‘Oh, I can do this.”

Frenelle said when deciding to work in real estate you have to be a people person with a heart.

“You have to be a person that is good with communicating with others, you have to want to get in your car and drive and have a sense of direction — I tell people that all the time,” Frenelle said.

Frenelle was licensed in 1998 and was the first black-owned real estate broker in Troup County.

“I love helping people, and I think I came back home because I knew there was a need here in Troup County because there were no Black real estate companies in Troup County,” Frenelle said.

Frenelle said the entrepreneurial spirit of her great uncle Glenn Robinson, carried on in her.

“He was one of the first to have a lot of businesses here in Troup County. So I feel like a lot of that stems from that side of the family,” Frenelle said.  “He was one of the first to have the funeral home, open a movie theater and at one point, he was the first African American Mayor Pro Tem.”

Frenelle said having her own business was important to her.

“I wanted to come down here and help people who were interested in homeownership, that felt like they could not purchase have the opportunity,” Frenelle said.  “There were only a few of us here at the time, but nobody had their own company. It’s just been an honor to be here to help people here in this community gain that ownership.”

Along with helping people achieve the American Dream, Frenelle works to provide education to those looking to sell their loved one’s homes.

“I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to help in that way,” Frenelle said.

In paving the way for African American representation in real estate, Frenelle said she’s grateful to see that there are other Black real estate companies in Troup County now.

“I’m proud to say that I was the first, but I’m glad I’m not the only one now. There’s nothing like seeing more people who look like you being business owners,” Frenelle said. I

n Frenelle’s time, she has been the president of the Troup County Board of Realtors as its first African American board president in 2012. She now continues to serve on the state and national level. “

I’m the vice president of member and public services of the Georgia Association of Realtors, which is a great honor because it’s hard to get up on that level as well. I’m also the Vice Chair of the multicultural advisory group for the National Association of Realty,” Frenelle said.

Frenelle’s career spans over two decades. She said she feels her purpose is to help people whether it be in real estate or out.

“We all have a purpose here, and I feel like this is my calling — I love what I do,” Frenelle said.

Bikel Frenelle Realty is located at 134 Bull Street.  For more information, call 706-845-8211.