The Interview: Kelly Hines

Pictured above (left to right) are Kelly, Edie, Hap and Harris Hines.

Special to The Paper

This month, The Paper visited with Kelly Hines for its October Q&A.

Briefly describe yourself and what you do/did.
Kelly Hines, Newnan/Coweta native…proud wife of Hap and mom of Edie and Harris, and I have the privilege of serving as the Executive Director of the Coweta Samaritan Clinic, our community’s free primary and specialty healthcare provider for uninsured adults.

Best piece of advice you’ve received.
My mom was a preschool teacher, and I always remember her saying “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it.” That advice has served me well throughout the years.

If I had it to do over …
I would have learned how to play a musical instrument, in particular the piano or guitar. I love to sing, but I can’t just randomly burst into acapella song … a rather unfortunate situation for me. It would be such a gift if I could sit down and play an instrument and sing!
You are going on an extended solo trip.

What three albums and three books would you take?
This is a tough one, as I love such a variety of music! For albums, I’d say Dave Matthews’ Under the Table and Dreaming, Garth Brooks’ The Ultimate Hits, and James Taylor’s Greatest Hits. And sadly/embarrassingly, in full transparency, I’m not a reader…I tend to fall asleep as soon as I get a book in my hands! However, my early morning ladies’ workout group is full of avid readers, and when I asked them what three books they’d suggest, they said: Pillars of the Earth, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Where the Crawdads Sing. Thanks, ladies!

Tell us one thing about yourself that few people know.
Something that very few know, or at least remember, would be that in high school weight training, my max “box squat” was 315 pounds. That, and that I sang the National Anthem for a Georgia vs. Kentucky basketball game when I was in college (talk about nerve-wracking!!!)!

You are hosting a dinner party for six. What five people, living or dead, would you invite and why.
If it were up to me, I’d have to have a cocktail party, because narrowing this list down to five guests is incredibly difficult! However, if I must play by the rules, I’d say Jesus, Mother Theresa, Coach Prime, LeAnne Morgan and Kirby Smart. And I’d imagine the mood would be light, fun, inspirational, and entertaining…my kind of dinner party!

Name an as yet unfulfilled dream.
Gosh, this is a tough one, as even though I’ve not necessarily had the most adventurous life, I sure have enjoyed my life. If I’m thinking about this more from a “wouldn’t it be great?” standpoint, I’d say take some sort of incredible, once-in-a-lifetime vacation. From a more practical standpoint, I’d say become fluent in Spanish. I had excellent Spanish teachers in high school (¡Muchas gracias, Sra. Wilson y Sra. Mullins!), but unfortunately I only took one Spanish class in college, didn’t really practice the language, and ultimately lost the basic skills I had.

If you weren’t doing what you are, you would be …
A back-up singer for a band! I saw Jimmy Buffet in concert when I was in middle school and thought his back-up singer ladies were so amazing. What a fun job that would be! But I’d venture my life would be totally different if that were my job, and I wouldn’t trade the life I have for that.

Your go-to food.
A good salad with grilled chicken … always a favorite!!! Yum!!!

Favorite movies(s).
Good Will Hunting, Rudy, Air.

Dogs or cats?
Both!

Your favorite quote and why.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

Name something that you are extremely glad you did or accomplished.
I’m still so very proud to have been part of the team that built/opened the new Piedmont Newnan Hospital. When I started working at Piedmont Newnan in July 2008, that was one of the biggest projects I would be part of. We made it through the economic downturn at that time while pausing the project, rebidding the project components, and saving millions in project costs, as a result. To see that campus (and surrounding areas) now makes me so proud, both personally and of the team that was involved in that project.

What advice would you give your younger self just starting out on their own.
Don’t worry so much about what others think about you. Be who you are, be confident in yourself, and know that God made you the way He intended!