Meet Willie Hughey! Mr. Hughey was born, raised, and grew up in Jackson County. Shortly after getting married, he and his wife, Annie moved to Atlanta, and Mr. Hughey was soon drafted into the Army. He served for a little over six years on active duty. His time in the military took him around the United States (Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia) and the world (Germany, Vietnam, and many other countries). Mr. Hughey worked in with the United States Postal Service in Gainesville, was in the Georgia National Guard (20 years), served on a plethora of volunteer organizations (City Library Board, Piedmont Regional Library Board, Tax Equalization Board, Jefferson City School Board for 32 years this December), and Jefferson Motor Company.
It was an honor to sit down and talk with Mr. Hughey. We want to thank him for taking the time to tell us a little more about himself and his love of our community.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
Answer: “My father was from Walton County but moved to Jackson County at a young age. My mother was from Banks County, and somewhere along the way they were married and moved here in the community. My father was a pastor at St. Paul’s First Baptist Church on Gordon Street for 38 years.
“My wife, Annie and I celebrated our 61st wedding anniversary last week (Mid-June). While I was in the Army, we had three children (Audrey, Erica, and Alfredo), and we now have four grandchildren.”
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
A: “Working at the Post Office, serving in the military, and volunteering for civic organizations allowed me to come in contact and meet with many people. I still meet and am in contact with some of my post office co-workers and military friends.”
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
A: “We don’t eat out much, but when we do, I like to have a steak (Longhorn’s or Applebee’s). We also like Gringo’s and Chinese food.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
A: “I have lived in our community for the majority of my life. I have worked and served in the community since I was discharged from the military in 1968.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
A: “Jim Joiner, Tom Crow, Ronnie Hopkins, Jerry Waddell, and many other community leaders.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
A: “Israel. I have read all of the scriptures about it and would like to go there.”
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
A: “Old variety shows, ‘Beverly Hillbilly’s,’ ‘Andy Griffith,’ ‘The Jefferson’s,’ and Government shows (CNN, Fox News).”
Q: What advice would you give to people?
A: “Everything that’s good is not cheap. Everything that’s cheap is not good. It doesn’t cost much more to go first class. My father taught me both of these quotes.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “I don’t have anything that is pressing that I want to do. I have been halfway around the world. I don’t have a lot of places that I really want to go. I would love to go to Israel at one point and time. If I got to do that, I guess that would scratch my bucket list.”
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
A: “Gospel music and old school R & B.”
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
A: “There are not very many that have survived the times. I guess one of the most interesting places I would tell people anyone coming to visit would be the Crawford Long Museum area. Across from the Jackson Herald there used to be a restaurant, Marlowe’s Café. Buck Marlowe was the owner, and I started working for him when I was 14 years old. That was before child labor laws came along. Judy, Eddie, Donald and Jackie (Buck’s Children), we all kind of grew up together. I wish that building could have been preserved. It housed not only the restaurant, but the telephone exchange office was in that building. I started working as a dishwasher and ended up being a cook before I left. Mr. Buck was a character.”
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
A: “I would love to have lunch with Vladimir Putin, and I would want to ask him a lot of questions about what motivates him to do and say the things he does. I would want to know a lot about him. He probably wouldn’t tell me much, but I would ask him anyway.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?
A: “Right here in this chair. I want to stay active as long as I can… as much as I can. I don’t want to retire, sit down, and waste away.”
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “I am talkative… my wife tells me I talk too much sometimes. I don’t meet strangers. I can hit it off with anyone. I’m outgoing, jolly, and like to have fun.”
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
A: “Paris, France.”
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
A: “April and May, when the weather starts to change, you can do things outside, and everything starts to grow and bud. Thanksgiving and Christmas. The 4th of July.”
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
A: “The things I love to do at church when volunteering.”
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
A: “Vassco Hughey (his father), Fred Mathis (former teacher that worked with boys), and Evelyn Wright (former teacher that taught social studies).”
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
A: “Vanilla and Strawberries.”
Q: Finally, what word(s) or phrase(s) come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: “Home is where the heart is.”
