Meet the Rev. Roderick Hughey! Hughey is a father to eight, the pastor at Community Church of Gainesville and is the brain behind the local community organization Gainesville United. You may remember Hughey as a standout basketball player at East Hall High School in the late 80s.
Gainesville United is an organization that bridges the community with police and other administration.
We are actually partnering with the Gainesville City Schools on the 22nd of this month for a community pep rally,” Hughey said. “We pulled all of the city entity the police department, fire department, mayor, city council and United Way. All these people we are going to come together at City Park.”
The Community Pep Rally will be 6-8 p.m. on Aug. 22 at Bobby Gruhn Field at City Park.
People need to know that in all communities we are actually closer than we think,” said Hughey.
We want to thank Roderick for recently sitting down with us and telling us more about his life and love of Hall County. 

Question: What led you to your current career?
Answer: “I have been a pastor for 17 years. My mother and father were pastoring and evangalizing when I was young, so I grew up in the church. As soon as I turned 16, I took off running I said I didn’t want anymore church. I was old enough to drive and make my own decisions and I ran from church, God, and anything else. I remember one night I had just come from the club, had a wonderful time, and at 3 a.m. or something in the morning I heard God wake me up. The thing was, when I say wake up I mean I literally started writing in the dark. I woke up the next morning to get out of the bed and I noticed I had written all that on the paper and I was like ‘wow.’ When I looked at the paper and began to read all I could do was weep. He told me where to go and what I was going to be doing and I was like what does this mean I don’t want this I like doing what I am doing. Eventually, I was like okay God if this is you I will try it and I have been at it ever since.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County?
A: 
“I love Collegiate. I love their hamburgers. It takes me back to when I was younger.”
Q: Who is one of the most interesting people that you have met in Hall County over the years?
A: “I would have to say the most interesting people I have met in Hall county are Jack Pirkle, who used to be the principal at East Hall. He wouldn’t let us just quit. He would take time and sit down with us he didn’t care what he was doing. He would just love on us. Glen Cassell who was our basketball coach.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: “I would love to go to Hawaii for about three weeks.”
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “If I had any advice to anyone I would tell them to really slow down and think about what’s really truly important to you. There is a lot of things that we call important that are not and the things that are important we aren’t focused on. Our life is spinning and we are unable to make decisions because we are unsure. We are trying to be happy. We are doing everything to be happy but the moment we change our mind our lives change. It doesn’t take a week, it doesn’t take two hours, it’s instant. I’m not going to be hurt anymore that’s a statement but did you change your mind? Just because someone doesn’t treat me the way I would treat them am i going to change the way I act because if i do I didn’t change my mind.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hall County?
A: “The community. I think Hall County has the greatest community. I have friends in all the areas of Hall County. There is opportunity here but you have to make relationships. Relationships are very important in Hall County a lot of times, you can have a great education and struggle because it’s not always everything you know, but it’s relationships, too. ”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?
A: “I believe, hoping and having faith that in five or 10 years I’ll be at a place where I am leaving a strong legacy for my children and that I’ve left a good footprint in the community. Possibly preparing my exit to retirement and enjoy all that God has.”
Q: What three words mean “HOME” to you?
A: “Love, Communication, Patience.”
The Faces of Hall County is a project to showcase the amazing people that live or work in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured please email babernathy@gonorton.com.