Faces of Hall County: Pastor Keya Hillman

Question: What inspired or led you to your current career? 

Answer: “My current career, of course, was God-inspired. It wasn’t one that I chose, but rather, it chose me. I was originally pre-Med when I was young. I thought I was going to be a doctor. That was my plan – to be an MD, PhD, cure cancer, and win the Nobel Prize but God had a different plan for my life, and although I ran from it for many years, I finally said yes and answered the call to be in ministry.”

Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.

A: “I have two children. My son, Josh, who is 25, lives in Atlanta. Then there’s my daughter, Jessie, who’s 20 and currently a sophomore at Washington University in St. Louis. She is majoring in Global Health and the environment. I’m very proud of her. Additionally, I have my mother, who will be 86 on the 31st of this month, and she’s here with me as well.”

Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County? And what do you love there? 

A: “I actually really like the Atlanta Hwy Seafood Market. To me, it is the best seafood in Hall County. Usually, I go for the catfish—I’m a catfish fan—but I also love their ceviche. So those are my two favorites from there.”

Q: How long have you lived or worked in Hall County?

A: “I’ve lived and worked in Hall County for three years. I moved here in August of 2020, in the middle of the pandemic.”

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met in Hall County and why?

A: “I’ve met many interesting people in Hall County but I want to say Mayor Myrtle Figueras; she was the first African American mayor of Gainesville. So, I always enjoy meeting people who are trailblazers and groundbreakers.”

Q: What is your favorite childhood memory?

A: “One of my favorites was the opportunity I had to go to D.C. I forgot the name of the program, but we were delegates sent from our schools. I spent about a week in D.C., exploring the halls of Congress and meeting some of the movers and shakers of the time, as well as their aides. That was my real introduction to the halls of government.”

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? 

A: “Well, one item on my bucket list is to visit all seven continents. I’ve been to Africa—I visited Kenya. I just came back from Italy at the beginning of this year, so that covers Europe. I’ve also been to Asia, and, of course, I live in North America. Additionally, I visited Israel in 2022. I still have three more continents to explore.”

Q: What is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater? 

A: “The first movie I remember seeing would probably have to be the very first ‘Star Wars.'”

Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people? 

A: “Probably similar to the message I deliver to the crowd of people who come here every Sunday. It’s about learning how to love God and each other better than we have been.”

Q: What is something on your bucket list?

A: “Besides visiting all seven continents, probably at some point, I do want to go skydiving. I plan to wait until I’m older. I figure I’ll go like former President Bush did when he was 80. I think I’ll go when I’m 80, just in case something goes wrong; that way, I’ll feel like I’ve lived a long life.”

Q: What’s your favorite music or three bands you would like to see dead or alive?

A: “Gospel is really my favorite music, but I’ve always loved U2. I would love to see U2 and New Edition live – I’m telling my age, ha-ha.”

Q: Choosing anyone with whom would you love to have lunch? And where locally would y’all have this lunch? 

A: “If I could have lunch with anyone in the world, I would be torn between President Obama and Mrs. Obama. I would actually have lunch at Sweet Magnolia’s because I love them, and I always get the best customer service there. Sometimes, they give away extra treats so I think that’s where I would go.”

Q: What’s your favorite thing about Hall County? 

A: “I guess I love the small-town feel, coming from a big city. Everybody knows your name, that was one of the things when I first came here during the pandemic; we were still online, virtual, and I would meet people who knew me from watching on Facebook, but I didn’t know them. It’s sort of like that old Cheers song—you want to go where everybody knows your name? You’re definitely not lost here in Hall County. I’ve had the warmest, friendliest welcome since I’ve been here.”

Q: Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years? 

A: “That’s hard for me to say because I’m a Methodist pastor. So much of our lives are based on where the bishop and the cabinet send you. I would love to be here another five years in Gainesville, working and serving here at St. Paul, but we never know where we’re going to be. That’s my hope, it would be nice but of course, wherever I go, I’m going to be serving in a church somewhere, just continuing to do ministry and prayerfully serving whatever community I’m in at that time.”

Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you? 

A: “I was actually on the varsity bowling team in high school. We had a whole varsity bowling league in Philadelphia when I was in high school, so I lettered in bowling. I’m a horrible bowler now, I’m so rusty, ha-ha.”

Q: What three words mean home to you? 

A: “Family, Love, God.”

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: “Viola Davis. And I often get people saying I resemble her, but I love her. I love her as an actress and admire her power, so I wouldn’t mind acting with her. I would want it to be like a drama comedy. Something where we could have a laugh but also include some serious parts.”

Q: If you had a full-time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose? 

A: “If I could hire a full-time personal assistant, I would love someone to help me keep my life straight because I go in so many directions.”