Just a Chat with Retiree Wanda Williams
When did you begin working at
Jefferson State?
I began working at Jefferson State in
1973.
What was your first position
at Jefferson State?
My first position was English
instructor.
When did you retire?
I retired in 2000.
What was your title when you
retired?
I retired as chair of
Language Arts division.
How do you spend most of your
time as a retiree?
Most of my time is spent
teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grade English at
Advent Episcopal School.
What do you enjoy most about
retirement?
What I enjoy most is having
the opportunity to do something so different from what I had done most of my
professional life. Middle school is another world! Teaching children is a
challenge that I could never have anticipated. Most of the time it’s fun,
simply because teaching is my passion.
Do you have any children? Any
grandchildren?
I have two children: Kyle,
aged 30 and Lauren, aged 27.
Where were you born?
I was born in Bessemer, AL.
The most recent book you read
was:
Home by Toni
Morrison is the most recent book I’ve read.
My favorite quote is:
One of my favorite quotes is
“A man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for.”
My favorite movie is:
My favorite movie is An Affair to Remember.
My idea of a good evening is:
My idea of a good evening is
eating out with friends.
My favorite TV show is:
My favorite TV shows are all
of the Law and Order shows.
What inspires you?
People who are committed to a
cause that they are willing to work for inspire me the most.
My most memorable moment as a
Jefferson State employee was:
My most memorable moment as a
Jeff State employee was winning the Outstanding Faculty Member Award in 1993.
My best personality trait is:
My best personality trait is
my likability.
My worst personality trait
is:
My worst personality trait is
that I am controlling and excessively thorough.
Who was your favorite TV or
movie personality when you were a child?
As a child my favorite movie
personality was Doris Day.
The last thing I messed up on
was:
The last thing I messed up on
was trying to transport a vase of flowers home from work. I had emptied the
water from the vase and carefully placed it in a small cardboard box. My
mistake was setting the box on the hood of the car parked next to mine, not
realizing how high the winds were that day. I stood in shock as I watched the
wind whip the box up and swirl it in slow motion until it crashed to the
ground. After cleaning up the glass and bemoaning the loss of a lovely vase, I
was eventually able to get the undamaged flowers home. They were a surprise
from my son for my birthday.
If I got a million dollars
tomorrow, I would:
If I got a million dollars
tomorrow, I’d pay bills, make a donation
to my church, take care of my daughter’s grad school expenses (she’s Florida
State bound next month), and spread some around the family.
Who do you admire?
I admire my mother, who is
the most selfless, giving person I know.
When was the last time you
cried?
The last time I cried was
when I heard about the hit and run death of the four-year- old boy in Gate
City.
What is the first thing you
notice about people?
The first thing I notice
about people is whether they are friendly or not.
What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is French
fries.
What was the last movie you
watched?
The last movie I watched was The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
What is your favorite sound?
My favorite sound is violin
music.
What is the farthest you have
been from home?
The farthest I’ve been from
home is Freeport, Bahamas.
The biggest problem facing
the world today is:
The biggest problem facing
the world today is people’s refusal to take responsibility, no matter how big
or small, for their contribution to society.
Favorite sport?
Basketball is my favorite
sport.
My biggest accomplishment has
been:
My biggest accomplishment is
the positive impact I have had on the people with whom I come into contact.
My favorite musical group is:
My favorite musical group is
Earth, Wind & Fire
Were you named after anyone?
My middle name, Odessa, is my
maternal grandmother’s name.
What will the next five years
hold for you?
The next five years will find
me bringing an end to my teaching career and doing some traveling.
Did we forget anything? What
else would you like to tell us?
I have such happy memories of
the time I spent at Jeff State! When I
walked into my first class in BDH, it was the first time I had ever walked into
a classroom as a teacher. I literally grew up at Jeff State. I learned so much
from my colleagues and students. Going to work was just fun!
