Gailya is a part of "old" Cary. Her father and his three sisters, Gailya and her husband, Glenn and all their brothers and sisters, and Gailya's children, Mike and Mark, all attended the Cary schools. Gailya enjoys renovating old houses, gardening, and reading. She is devoted to working with children.

She attended Peace Junior College and received her degrees from Campbell University. She has taken many graduate courses from UNC and NCSU. She is certified K-9 and has taught grades 1, 2, and 3. She was first a teacher and an Assistant Principal at Cary Elementary where she had previously attended school!