For many students and alumni, Trojan Hall, also known as the “old gym,” holds many special memories such as basketball games, Kids Yule Love programs, pep rallies and talent shows. But for one alumni couple, this “gym” represents more than a memory of their adolescence, it marks the early beginnings of God’s plan unfolding for each of their lives.
Lance Hilliard ’93 and Elizabeth Bass Hilliard ’96 both came to know Christ on the same day, in the same place, at the same Al Holley concert when he visited Tattnall in the “old gym” in 1988. Lance was in Mrs. Rocker’s 7th grade class, and Elizabeth was in Mrs. Morris’s 4th grade class. Elizabeth shared that “God drew us to Himself at Tattnall before he drew us together there as well. We figured all this out when we met for the first time 5 years later.”
They met in Mrs. Wright’s Art Class at TSA; then Lance coached Elizabeth’s Y-Club Volleyball game, and that’s where they first started chatting. On February 6, 1993, he asked her out on their first date after a TSA basketball game, where Lance played and Elizabeth cheered. They dated all the way through high school and college, then made the union, that God prepared many years before, official in May 1999.
After graduating from TSA in 1993, Lance received his Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and Communications from Georgia College and State University followed by his Masters in Software Systems from Mercer University. He as worked as a software engineer for Ball Aerospace and also for Nation Reimbursement Group. Currently, he is employed at Raytheon in Warner Robins, Ga as their senior software engineer. He supports US Air Force special operations combat search and rescue software programs.
Elizabeth graduated from TSA in 1996 and received her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Mercer University. She taught third grade for a few years before she began staying home upon the birth of their first child. But in 2011, God began to reveal more of his plan for her life after the birth of their third child. Elizabeth began Truth Be Told Art from her home. TBT is a business that teaches women, who think they cannot paint, how to paint designs with His truth on it. In the past 2 1/2 years, she has hired artists throughout the state of Georgia to conduct home painting parties and most recently, added artists in South Carolina!
The Hilliards also have 3 children Jake (4th), Anna (2nd) and Ella Kate (4 years old). Their story came full circle as their children became students at Tattnall this year. “We are thrilled to be back “home” and feel as if TSA is a huge part of who we are today. We are proud to be Tattnall Trojans!” said Lance and Elizabeth. Tattnall is grateful that God began and is continuing their story here. We can’t wait to see how the rest of the story unfolds with their Tiny Trojans! As the famous quote says, “There is no place like home.”