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Dwight grew up learning valuable lessons from his father, Bud. When Bud passed away in 2005, Dwight took on his family\u2019s portion of the company. He knew he wanted to honor his dad by continuing to serve Franklin County with the values he was instilled with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGod was always first in our home. He taught me about honesty and that you\u2019re only as good as your word,\u201d Dwight said. \u201cYou know, when you shake hands with somebody about something, that\u2019s the way it is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At that same time, Dwight and Leon partnered with Leon\u2019s son, Chad, who also became a full partner in the business. Chad worked alongside his father, who, even after retiring, has continued to pass down his wisdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve just described it as a life of service,\u201d Chad said. \u201cI mean, that\u2019s how he taught me to lead. You serve one another. That\u2019s what our business is \u2014 a service-oriented business.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After all these years, the families are so intertwined that it\u2019s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve always done everything together, whether it was work, play, church\u2026 everything. We don\u2019t know life without each other,\u201d Leon said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The physical foundation of Cumberland Termite Company tells its own story of continuity. The business has always operated from the same location \u2014 Bud\u2019s home in Franklin County. Bud and Leon built an office and garage behind the house years ago. Bud\u2019s wife, who also served as a city judge in Estill Springs, managed the books from her kitchen table, cooking lunch for the partners. After they both passed away, the house became the permanent office for the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From the beginning, Bud and Leon made intentional choices about business operations: staying small to maintain quality control, building personal relationships with customers, and remaining rooted in their community. The company currently serves Franklin County and several surrounding counties, but there was a time when Bud and Leon had to drive as far as necessary just to make a dollar. With a solid customer base built over decades, they\u2019ve chosen sustainability over expansion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEvery one of us is on the same page \u2014 not just workwise, but churchwise, and lifewise. In every aspect of our life, we\u2019re all on the same page,\u201d Dwight said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leon and Dwight pastor churches in addition to running their business. Leon pastors Estill Springs Baptist Church, while Dwight pastors Riley Creek Baptist Church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Family members from both sides are invested in their churches, communities, and the family business. Chad\u2019s wife, Jeanine, worked as a secretary in the office. Bud\u2019s wife, Willie, and Leon\u2019s wife, Helen, worked as bookkeepers for the company until Willie passed away and Helen retired. At that point, Dwight\u2019s wife, Stacey, took over bookkeeping, and the Williams and Duckworth men confirmed that she is the one who is really in charge around there, as the women were before her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, a third generation has joined the family business: Dwight\u2019s son, Walton (named for his grandfather), works at Cumberland Termite Company. Dwight said there is something special about receiving this legacy from his father and then being able to pass it on to his son. Leon said he is also grateful for that opportunity with his own son, Chad. Dwight, Chad, and Walton continue to bring excellence to the company that their fathers (and Walton\u2019s grandfather) initially created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A half-century-long family friendship, a service-focused business, and a heritage of faith, integrity, and quality service are the cornerstones of Cumberland Termite Company, and the characteristics that will keep them in business for generations. GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" WALTON \u201cBUD\u201d Duckworth and Jesse Leon Williams were riding down the road, going raccoon hunting, a pastime they enjoyed together regularly. But this particular hunting expedition in 1967 would change both of their lives in a big way \u2014 the night Bud asked Leon to go into the termite business with him, a venture that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":24302,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/franklin-county\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/09\/Story-1-photo1-7-1024x683.jpg\")