Vasiliki J. Stathes (also known as Billie Wills, 17 May 1917 – 13 November 2016) was born in Washington, D.C., the daughter of Greek immigrants. Her parents made a significant contribution to the local Greek community. After completing her studies, she worked for the United Nations and its predecessor, the League of Nations.
After settling in the state of Florida, Vasiliki J. Stathes worked for forty years as a teacher of foreign languages and fine arts at Miami Senior High School, combining her passion for languages, the arts, teaching, and intercultural communication. She was beloved both by her students and by the local community, and became known for her innovative teaching methods.
Throughout her life, Billie collected Greek proverbs and ancient Greek maxims, a reflection of her love for words as well as for the folk wisdom of her ancestral homeland, Greece.
