Interview by Gainesville High School junior and Abernathy Cochran intern Kate Willis
Meet Elizabeth Wiley! Elizabeth was nominated to be a Face Of Hall County by Kate Willis. Kate was once a student of Elizabeth’s in second grade at Centennial Arts Academy. Elizabeth is a true role model and friend. She is always funny and optimistic, but also has a lot of empathy and compassion for others. Her love for her job and the kids she teachers is nothing short of amazing.
We want to thank Elizabeth for spending time with us recently and telling us more about her life and love of Hall County.
Question: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
Answer: “I am in my 30th year of teaching elementary school all at Centennial Arts Academy. My mother was in education as were my older sisters and it felt like a natural fit. I thought I wouldn’t like it, but I ended up loving it. It has been a world of fun.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County, and what do you love there?
A: “My new favorite restaurant is Pure Pho behind the Starbucks on Dawsonville Highway. I love Becky, the robot. Our favorite items on the menu are the Bánh-mí and Clam Clay Pot.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Hall County?
A: “I have lived in Hall County my entire life, so around 54 ½ years and counting.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met in Hall County and why?
A: “The most interesting person I’ve met in Hall County is Dave Shumake. He was Principal of Gainesville High School for a while and became the assistant superintendent for the Gainesville City School System after that. He is very passionate about everything, especially the well-being of young people. He is one of the most informed people I know and I really enjoy talking to him.”
Q: What is your favorite childhood memory?
A: “My older siblings are 10, 14, and 17 years older than me. When the older two sisters were attending the University of Georgia, my younger sister and I would get dropped off in Athens by our parents. We would get together with my older sisters, their roommates, and their roommates’ younger siblings. We would spend most of the day just partying in Athens like we were in college. I still remember thinking it was the coolest thing ever.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
A: “I would travel to England, Scotland, and Wales. I’m enchanted by the landscape, and I really want to visit the Vatican.”
Q: What is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?
A: “The first movie I remember seeing was one of the Benji movies. It was at a movie theater on the square where the Collegiate Grill is right now.”
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “I would say to remain calm, be kind to each other, and always have patience because you don’t know what anyone else is going through.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “I would love to travel to England, Scotland, Wales, and Italy.”
Q: What is your favorite music/ three bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: “I really wish I had gotten to see Freddy Mercury play with Queen, and I would have loved to have seen the Eagles.”
Q: What local business makes you the most nostalgic about Hall County and why?
A: “A current business would probably be the Dairy Queen, and a former business would probably be the CakeBox. It had some of the best desserts and pastries. There was nothing like it. I still remember just knowing I had to have one of those cakes for my birthday.”
Q: Choosing anyone (past or present and a non-relative), with whom would you love to have lunch?
A: “I would like to have lunch with Harry Truman. I think he would have lots of good stories and life lessons to tell.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hall County?
A: “I like that I’ve been able to see it change from a little county to quite the Metropolitan kind of area. When I was your age, the thing most kids did was go to Lakeshore Mall. But now there are so many more opportunities for shopping and entertainment, which I love.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
A: “I hope that I’m into a good routine of retirement, contributing some volunteering hours to help my community, traveling to great places, and just simply enjoying life here in Gainesville.”
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “I cried every single day of 1st and 2nd grade so much that I had to move schools. Then finally on Christmas of second grade I just stopped crying.”
Q: What three words mean “Home” to you?
A: “Three words that mean home to me are probably family, the lake, and end of day plans (whether that includes going out to eat or just simply staying at home.”
Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose?
A: “I would choose Steve Martin or Meryl Streep. I love their humor, and they would probably be lots of fun to work with.”
Q: If you had a full-time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose?
A: “It doesn’t matter who it is. As long as they can read my mind and figure out what I need done, they can have the job.”
