Hailstock, who resides in Greenville, SC, showed up at Brutontown just to fill in for a few days. This was ten years ago. It seemed that several people felt that she was way too qualified to let her get away. Speaking of qualifications, she holds undergraduate degrees in Health and Civic Education and Physical Therapy and a Masters in Recreation -- all from Florida A & M University. Hailstock was and still is a perfect fit.

Speaking of fit ... Twice a week she leads low-impact aerobics for Senior Citizens in the mornings. Each week is kicked off with Bible study for adults and Bible puppets for the youth. Each afternoon, she helps area youth with homework and engages them in recreation and exercise activities. Once a month they go out to the mall and celebrate birthdays.

Hailstock, married 41 years, is the mother of three sons and a daughter. Her children are all grown, so she now enjoys being the grandmother of one granddaughter, and the great-grandmother of two great-grandsons. A member of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Greenville, she is active in the youth department, usher's board, Vacation Bible School, Wednesday night service and church aerobics.

Additionally, she enjoys working in the outreach soup kitchens for both Tabernacle Baptist and Union Baptist Churches. Her favorite Bible verse is Philippians 3:14 which states "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me..." and is the motivation to make a daily difference in the lives of others.

With over 30 years in recreation, you would think that Hailstock is ready to slow things down. However, she is currently planning future activities to engage the community to become more active and stay off the streets. Her latest idea is to have Midnight Basketball, where the youth can play ball from 11pm to 2am and receive ministry services as well. Also, she has plans to attend more plays and symphonies in 2007, so the youth will be exposed to art opportunities.

Once the supervisor over many recreational facilities in her area, Hailstock has seen Brutontown through many stages of progression. She is grateful that the area is now undergoing revitalization and hopes to be an integral part of the process.

Hailstock stands out in her community because of her relentless efforts to expose youth and their families to culture, higher education and recreation. She proudly embraces her new title of "Unsung Hero," stating that life brings about a "new day everyday; and quite a challenge everyday." However, she would not give anything for the journey.