(This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights Stuart Walley, a technician at Mack Grubbs Motors.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born in State Line, Miss., in Greene County on Feb. 16, 1955.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I went to school in Jackson and finished up at Byram High School.
Q: Where all have you lived?
A: I’ve lived in Greene County, Jackson and Columbia.
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: I’m a technician at Mack Grubbs Motors, and I work servicing vehicles every day. I work on drivability problems. These vehicles have so many different codes nowadays, and it takes a sensor to run everything. We have to do all of it — electrical, engine, brakes and things like that.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: I needed a job when I got out of high school and got hired at the Chevrolet place. That’s when I started with cars. Then I moved back to Jackson for a little while, then came back in 1978 and have been here since. Prior to working after high school, I worked in my dad’s garage just south of Jackson.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: It’s just something that changes every day, every year. Vehicles have changed so much from ’78 until now. Seeing the changes they’ve made in the new vehicles is interesting.
Q: What was your first job?
A: My first job was at the Chevrolet place.
Q: Who is the person who has been most influential in your life?
A: My daddy, Joseph Walley, was. He was a police officer and the biggest part of my life. He made a lot of concessions for his family.
Q: If you could relive one day from your life, which day would you choose?
A: I wish I could change the day my wife was diagnosed with cancer. It was a horrible day, but thankfully we caught it early and got it managed. I’d love to relive that day and not hear that word — cancer — from that doctor.
Q: What is your spouse’s name? What does he do for a living?
A: Her name is Cecelia (Sissy) Walley. She is a veterinarian tech and dog groomer at Columbia Animal Hospital.
Q: Do you have children?
A: I have one son, Kyle Walley. Just got a brand new grandson, only two months old. Kyle works on an oil rig in Louisiana.
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: Crab legs. I love crab legs.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: If I could go anywhere in the world, I’d probably go to Canada. I’ve always wanted to go up there.
Q: What hobbies do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I hunt and fish. That’s most of my hobbies — hunting and fishing. I like to deer hunt and turkey hunt. I’d rather turkey hunt, though, and I like to fish for crappie.
Q: What do you enjoy about living and working in Columbia and Marion County?
A: I’ve enjoyed the dealership. I’ve had some good boss men; I’ve been through a couple of owners and all of them have been good. Mr. Mack has always been a good boss man to me and helped any way he needed to. I love the community and put forth a lot of effort to the community. I’m on the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department. I just love Columbia and the community.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: I would probably say, right now, Donald Trump. I just believe he is a man of his word, and he’s going to get this country back going again.
Q: Would you rather read a good book or watch a good movie and why?
A: I’d rather watch a movie. Just sitting down and reading is hard for me to do. Actually being able to see something keeps my attention better.
Q: What moment in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
A: The day I trusted the Lord. It was in 1973.
Q: What would be the No. 1 thing on your Bucket List?
A: I would like to go elk hunting with my son.
Q: If you could describe your morals in three words, what would they be?
A: Honesty, passionate and (being) true.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: I’d just like to be remembered as a hard worker and a person of the community.
— Joshua Campbell
Pictured Above: Stuart Walley, a technician at Mack Grubbs Motors, has worked at the automotive dealership for 40 years. He serves on the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department and enjoys hunting and fishing. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
