Exhibit 99(a)

                                      PROXY
                         COMMUNITY FIRST BANKING COMPANY
                         SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS


         The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Gary D. Dorminey and C.
Lynn Gable, or either of them, as proxies, each with full power of substitution,
to vote the number of shares of common stock of Community First Banking Company
("Community First"), which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if
personally present at a Special Meeting of Shareholders to be held at the main
office of Community First Bank located at 110 Dixie Street, Carrollton, Georgia,
on December 10, 2001, at 5:00 p.m., local time, and at any adjournment or
postponement thereof, upon the proposals described in the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus and the Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders, dated
October 29, 2001, the receipt of which is acknowledged in the manner specified
below.

    1.       Merger. To approve, ratify, confirm and adopt the Agreement
             and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of July 9, 2001, by and
             between BB&T Corporation ("BB&T") and Community First, and a
             related plan of merger (collectively, the "Merger Agreement"),
             pursuant to which Community First will merge with and into
             BB&T, with Community First shareholders receiving 0.98 shares
             of BB&T common stock in the merger in exchange for each of
             their shares of Community First common stock plus cash instead
             of any fractional share.

             FOR      |_|              AGAINST  |_|               ABSTAIN  |_|

    2.       In the discretion of the proxies on such other matters as may
             properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournments
             thereof.

         THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER
DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS
PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE MERGER.

         Please sign this proxy exactly as your name appears below. When shares
are held jointly, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a
corporation, please sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized
officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.

         DATED:                      , 2001
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                                            Signature


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                                            Signature if held jointly


         THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF COMMUNITY FIRST
BANKING COMPANY, AND MAY BE REVOKED PRIOR TO ITS EXERCISE.

     I _____will     _____will not attend the Special Meeting.