illy and Nancy Roe have been around Bluffton a long time. They  have raised their children here and have always involved themselves in civic and community events.

     We were pleased to sit back on their screened back porch overlooking the river and chat. What a wonderful way to get up close and personal with such a lovley couple.

Written by Babbie Guscio

Where were you born?
Nancy: I was born in Oklahoma City, but I grew up in Greenville, North Carolina.
Bill: Born in Teaneck, New Jersey

Tell us about your family.
We have four children; Two grandchildren who live in Bluffton with my daughter-in-law; Two more grandchildren born this past June in Califon, New Jersey; A sister and brother-in-law and two nieces who live in Los Angeles; And a nephew in Charleston.

Where is your home in Bluffton?
For the past five years we have lived at 113 Bridge Street in a beautiful place overlooking the May River. Before that, we owned Windy Knoll horse farm, located a small distance down Highway 46. This is where we raised our children and lived for 28 years.

What is your educational background?
Nancy: (Nancy likes this question because any chance  she gets to talk about Duke...she does) I am a Graduate of Duke University; Treasurer elect of the local Duke Club and avid Duke Basketball fan (my husband would say rabid rather than avid).
Bill:University  of Georgia with a BBA in marketing and a member of the Gridiron Society.

Tell us about your Hobbies:
Nancy:Everything revolving around horses. This includes polo, horse races, steeplechases, and fox hunting to name a few. I taught my three girls to ride by my own special method and they all three have horse farms as adults,  and needless to say they are very good riders.
Bill: My main hobby is Nancy (good answer, right ladies?) also thorougbred horses, fox hunting and polo.

What place has had the most influence on you:
Nancy: That of course is Bluffton. We have lived here 33 years as a family of children, horses, and labs. We have been involved in the schools and politics on the national, state and local levels.
Bill: Honestly, I would have to say my college, The University of Georgia. I recieved a complete life overhaul and a huge amount of street smarts.

What is your favorite thing to eat?
Nancy: Ice cream, especially the Sippin Cow’s Oreo.
Bill: Our local seafood.

If you could fix supper for four people, past or present,  who would they be?
Nancy: Since I am not noted for my culinary expertise, I would probably stick to spaghetti and have my grandchildren, Kyle (9yrs.) and Kamryn (6 yrs. Oct.), and their mother Kelly, and of course Billy.
Bill: Deke Deloach, former Governor David Beasley, Congressman Joe Wilson, Sen Lindsay Graham - plus Nancy. (Another good answer, right ladies?)

What has been your favorite book?
Nancy: This is a hard one to answer as I have always read a lot. While in college and those early years, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s books (especially Tender is the Night) were my favorites. I even named a dog Zelda. Later a book that my daughter Kellie Kenny and I have always shared is John Irving’s,  A Prayer for Owen Meany.
Bill:  My favorite is usually the last one I’ve read. This being Southern History.

Okay, favorite movie?
Nancy:  Also a difficult question as Billy and I watch a lot of movies, but I guess I will say The Big Chill filmed in Beaufort with wonderful music by Marvin Gaye and The Prince of Tides, also filmed in Beaufort using my Mother-in-law’s Home (the former Bay Street Inn) in the movie.
Bill: Gone with the Wind. This is my favorite because I saw it the night before I left for college in of all places... Georgia. I almost stayed home.

What has been the best present you have ever received?
Nancy:  My husband Billy has always given the best presents,  and I do still love and wear a Ralph Lauren parka with polo scenes all over it. He must have given it to me over 30 years ago.
Bill: Let’s classify that as a gift, my wife, Nancy. (He’s ranking pretty high on the good answer chart, right ladies?)

Tell us about the best trip ever taken:
Nancy: Our trips to Ireland for horse racing and steeplechases.
Bill: Nothing can compare to Ireland.

What is one of your fondest memories:
Nancy:  Seeing and holding our first child Kristy for the first time. I can still feel my heart swell when I think of it. I feel such happiness for my daughter Kellie and her husband, Brian enjoying their two babies as new parents.
Bill: I have several. The first would have to be when Nancy and I saw, Kristy, our first child for the first time. Then  Georgia football, Parris Island graduation and receiving the Order of the Palmetto from Governor Beasley.

What is your favorite music?
Nancy & Bill:  Without a doubt I have always loved opera and classical music. Now I only listen to those CDs in my car. The rest of the time I listen to country western  with my husband. We love Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney and George Strait and Roy Orbison.

What was your most embarrassing moment?
Nancy: Tripping and falling into a concrete planter at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Atlanta during a reception for former President Richard Nixon.
Bill: Being thrown off of a number of horses over the years. But I have always picked myself  up and gotten back on.

The one thing that people may not know about you?
Nancy:  That my middle initial H. stands for Hoot. So many people say to me “That’s a hoot” and I laugh to myself thinking, “If you only knew.”
Bill: That I am a concert violinist.


Why you love Bluffton?
Nancy and Bill:  Because of horses! Billy’s business brought us to Savannah but we chose to live in Bluffton  Little did we know at the time this would become the best decision of our life. We’ve raised our family in Bluffton.
   At Windy Knoll we had all of Buckwalter in which to ride our horses as well as a regulation size polo field on our property for exercising and training. Billy brought polo here from Atlanta in 1973. Now we live in Old Town on the May River and are constantly on our dock or rowing our two labs over to the sandbar. Billy  rows for exercise and now he has inspired me to start rowing too. And of course we are blessed with the wonderful friends and the best oysters in the world! We are here forever!