Community Highlights: Meet Wilhemina Hooper of Hooper Mobile Notary Services LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Wilhemina Hooper.

Hi Wilhemina, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I got into this business about four years ago, and it all started when SunTrust and BB&T merged. They offered early retirement to anyone who’d been there 20 years or more, and I thought, “You know what? I’m ready for this.” I’d been in the corporate world since I was 19, and I really needed a break. I’d heard people talk about loan signing agents, but honestly, I had no clue how it actually worked. I just knew you had to be a notary first. So I put in my retirement papers and started looking into becoming a notary in Georgia. Here’s where I hit my first snag—Georgia is what they call an “attorney state.” That means attorneys have to be at all the loan closings, and I could only witness the signings. Which basically meant I’d only make small fees. Not exactly what I was hoping for! So I did what anyone does these days—I went on Facebook looking for help. I found someone who was willing to mentor me and show me what else I could do with my notary commission. We really clicked, and before long, a few other notaries reached out to us. We ended up forming this little group and started meeting regularly. That’s how I learned about general notary work. Turns out, there’s so much more I could do! I can notarize powers of attorney, wills, trusts, affidavits, acknowledgments, school forms, I-9 forms—you name it. As a mobile notary, I go wherever my clients need me. Their homes, offices, nursing homes, hospitals, coffee shops—wherever works for them. I can honestly say I’m so glad I made this change. I get to meet all kinds of interesting people, and I’ve built up this great group of regular clients who call me all the time. My Google business page has over 300 five-star reviews, which still amazes me. I work with other notaries when they need a witness, and I team up with attorneys for estate planning work, which is really big right now. It’s been such a rewarding career change after all those years in banking.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh no, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road! There were so many startup costs I hadn’t thought about. I had to buy a good printer, tons of paper, special pens, notary stamps, reference books—the list just kept growing. Then I had to join the NNA, which is the National Notary Association. You really need to be connected with them because they’re basically the biggest name in the notary world. I pay for a membership every year, which adds up. If you want to stay certified as a loan signing agent, you have to take a test every single year. And don’t get me started on insurance—I need notary insurance plus errors and omissions coverage, because one mistake could cost me big time. I also had to sign up with a bunch of different signing services. Some of them are free, but others charge you if you want the premium features. It’s like everything costs money in this business! The ongoing expenses really add up too. When I do a signing, I go through so much paper—I mean, some of these loan packages are huge. So now I’m pretty picky about which jobs I take. And since I travel all over the place, sometimes pretty far from home, I’m constantly filling up my gas tank and wearing out my tires. It’s definitely not as simple as just getting your notary license and calling it a day. There’s a lot more to it than people realize.

We’ve been impressed with Hooper Mobile Notary Services LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
As a mobile notary, I come to you—that’s the whole point! You don’t have to leave your house or office because I’ll come wherever you are. If you’re stuck in bed, can’t get out of the house, or you’re in the hospital, I’ll be there for you. And if you need witnesses for your documents, I can bring one or two along. I love that I can leave my clients feeling happy and taken care of. That’s probably why so many of them call me back when they need notary services again.
Here’s something I want you to know—if for some reason I can’t get to you when you need me, I have a whole team of notary friends who can step in and help. That’s just how we notaries work. Sure, we might be competing for the same business, but we’re also like a big support network for each other. We really do stick together. I can handle all kinds of documents: affidavits, contracts, deeds, powers of attorney, wills and trusts, I-9 employment verification forms, auto loans, business contracts, estate planning paperwork, school forms—pretty much anything you need notarized. The bottom line is, I want to make this as easy as possible for you. You’ve got enough to worry about without having to drive around town looking for a notary.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
The thing I love most about living here is the people. There are so many different people from all over the place! I’m originally from the Chicago area—the south suburbs—and you just never know who you’re going to meet until you start chatting with them. I always ask, “So where are you from?” and I’m constantly surprised by the answers. When I first moved here 22 years ago, I met my friend Melba, and she was from North Carolina. It’s been like that ever since—just this amazing mix of people from everywhere. Now, what I like least about the city? You probably guessed it—the traffic! I absolutely hate driving in all that mess. That’s actually one of the reasons why, as a mobile notary, I try to schedule my appointments for midday and keep them local when I can. I’d much rather avoid rush hour if at all possible. The traffic is just brutal here, but honestly, meeting all these interesting people from different places makes it worth putting up with.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/groups/1330696830676077/user/1264245462
• Linkedin: Hooper Mobile Notary Service
• Other: Google business page Hooper Mobile Notary Services LLC 678-852-9571

Image Credits
Mobile Notary supplies Wilhemina Hooper, Notary Public