Faith, love, respect, and work epitomize Becky Davis

Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

3039

Abstract

photos, was decades in the making until Davis’ sheer moxie convinced haircut patron Jeremy Roberts to step in as her co-author. A sequel scrutinizing the colorful exploits of more longtime Alapaha citizens is in the works for the Berrien Historical Foundation alum.</p><p id="851e">“My mother Cozetta Harper Moore and Fr. Brendan Timmins were my primary mentors,” says Davis. “Mama finished high school and some college, which was very unusual as most students didn’t go beyond 7th or 8th grade in the 1920s. She had intelligence and talent and wanted her children to succeed. Father Timmins, our priest at St. Ann in the 1980s, loved God, his parishioners, and exemplified wisdom. He provided much-needed counseling when our eldest son Marlin was killed in an accident at 18 years old.”</p><p id="08c4">The staunch Republican attributes her 60-year career to faith, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to treating her clients with love and respect. “Cosmetology is very rewarding financially and enables you to develop long-lasting personal relationships,” admits Davis. “You can go as high in this profession as you desire if you have the ambition. But without God in my life, the successes that I have achieved would not have been possible.”</p><p id="fa00">As long as she can occasionally trim hair, maintain her daylily and longleaf pine-filled yard, attend classic country and rock and roll concerts, dine out with high school friends, host family luncheons on Sunday afternoons, see her grandchildren and great-grandchildren achieve their dreams, and serve the Lord, Davis will be content.</p><figure id="c629"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*hP8jZT7T7WnNWAHcwjSYYQ.jpeg"><figcaption><b>Newly minted octogenarian Becky Davis is seen on Oct. 19, 2022, ready to step into the original Bank of Alapaha building constructed in 1905 which is adjacent to the former Becky’s Beauty Salon. Renamed and significantly renovated as Shear Legacy Salon by new owners Megan Stone Hulsey and Laura Stone Miller, Davis’ old stomping ground remains in capable hands. The lead image was also taken during this evening session. Photography by Laura Cooper</b></figcaption></figure><div id="4db3" class="link-block"> <a href="https://jeremylr.medium.com/if-those-walls-could-talk-a-requiem-for-beckys-beauty-salon-6ca331a82741"> <div> <div> <h2>If those walls could talk: A requiem for Becky’s Beauty Salon</h2> <div><h3>An oral history finds a rural South Georgia institution bidding farewell after 60 years of top caliber haircuts and…</h3></div> <div><p>jeremylr.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*gKoFOVdIr-SReGZ4QkKbew.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="bf91" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/footsteps-of-early-alap

Options

aha-catholic-settlers-5d5a50c4f07d"> <div> <div> <h2>Footsteps of early Alapaha Catholic settlers</h2> <div><h3>A bustling little town with a big heart at the dawn of the 20th century, Alapaha, Georgia's 140-year history is…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*83Hpw28icw3Zs4riiUn76w.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="c97d" class="link-block"> <a href="https://jeremylr.medium.com/behold-the-lamb-stamps-post-covid-phase-of-alapaha-easter-passion-play-a8184cf7dbb4"> <div> <div> <h2>‘Behold the Lamb’ stamps post-COVID phase of Alapaha Easter Passion Play</h2> <div><h3>The 26th edition of the volunteer-driven, community-wide event is free to all ages in the northern-most city in Berrien…</h3></div> <div><p>jeremylr.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*l5auMNkN9X2XHJHl1bXSJQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="2108" class="link-block"> <a href="https://jeremylr.medium.com/fundraising-efforts-yield-50-000-for-historic-alapaha-gym-de80d53186a4"> <div> <div> <h2>Fundraising efforts yield $50,000 for historic Alapaha Gym</h2> <div><h3>Constructed in 1938, the prospect of losing the Alapaha Gym prompted a rural South Georgia community of 700 residents…</h3></div> <div><p>jeremylr.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*XrKjze1ns22fvQJ08sQeaA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="53e6" class="link-block"> <a href="https://jeremylr.medium.com/strong-team-spirit-imbues-alapaha-station-celebration-de879e9b7aa6"> <div> <div> <h2>Strong team spirit imbues Alapaha Station Celebration</h2> <div><h3>The Alapaha Station Celebration got off the ground as a festival marking the 100th anniversary of Alapaha, Georgia, in…</h3></div> <div><p>jeremylr.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*cbT8qNFOnVlnNMIr89MuIQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="ce75"><i>© Jeremy Roberts, 2022. All rights reserved. To touch base, email <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> and mention which story led you my way. I appreciate it sincerely.</i></p></article></body>

Faith, love, respect, and work epitomize Becky Davis

Photography by Laura Cooper

Becky Davis owned Becky’s Beauty Salon in Alapaha, Georgia, from 1962 until her retirement in August 2021. Davis’ extended family consisted of multiple barbers and beauticians, and during summer vacations the brunette Berrien High Schooler assisted her cousins at Modern Beauty Shop in Douglas.

Davis applied at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College with intentions of becoming a teacher but decided to marry the late Lamar Davis before her college application was finalized. Davis soon pivoted her career aspirations and entered the Valdosta School of Cosmetology. It was a life-altering choice. Graduating as a licensed master cosmetologist, Davis never looked back.

In between raising three sons [Marlin, Michael, and Mark], she cut hair alongside Virginia Pierce until her friend decided to take a brief sabbatical from cosmetology. Davis saved her money and bought the business at a time when haircuts cost only $3. “Today a customer can spend more on a hair appointment than I made in a week when I first started working,” confirms Davis. “The cost of supplies has increased as much as 300%.”

A prolific volunteer, Davis is the entertainment chairwoman of the annual Alapaha Station Celebration [since 1981], an actor and choir member for the Alapaha Easter Passion Play, and a co-organizer of Alapaha’s Country Christmas. The Lion’s Club has recognized Davis for her outstanding community service. As part of the Smithsonian’s traveling sports-themed exhibit, Berrien County hosted basketball games reuniting former high school athletes in 2017. Davis was elated when she scored a three-point granny shot.

Davis is a lay Eucharistic minister, lector, CCD teacher, outreach participant, and director of Christmas plays at St. Ann Catholic Church. During a pilgrimage to Italy she viewed the Shroud of Turin, believed to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ. She was humbled when the Diocese of Savannah presented her with a Bishop Gartland Service Award in 2004.

Footprints of Early Alapaha Settlers, a manuscript documenting local Catholic heritage with countless interviews, research, and photos, was decades in the making until Davis’ sheer moxie convinced haircut patron Jeremy Roberts to step in as her co-author. A sequel scrutinizing the colorful exploits of more longtime Alapaha citizens is in the works for the Berrien Historical Foundation alum.

“My mother Cozetta Harper Moore and Fr. Brendan Timmins were my primary mentors,” says Davis. “Mama finished high school and some college, which was very unusual as most students didn’t go beyond 7th or 8th grade in the 1920s. She had intelligence and talent and wanted her children to succeed. Father Timmins, our priest at St. Ann in the 1980s, loved God, his parishioners, and exemplified wisdom. He provided much-needed counseling when our eldest son Marlin was killed in an accident at 18 years old.”

The staunch Republican attributes her 60-year career to faith, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to treating her clients with love and respect. “Cosmetology is very rewarding financially and enables you to develop long-lasting personal relationships,” admits Davis. “You can go as high in this profession as you desire if you have the ambition. But without God in my life, the successes that I have achieved would not have been possible.”

As long as she can occasionally trim hair, maintain her daylily and longleaf pine-filled yard, attend classic country and rock and roll concerts, dine out with high school friends, host family luncheons on Sunday afternoons, see her grandchildren and great-grandchildren achieve their dreams, and serve the Lord, Davis will be content.

Newly minted octogenarian Becky Davis is seen on Oct. 19, 2022, ready to step into the original Bank of Alapaha building constructed in 1905 which is adjacent to the former Becky’s Beauty Salon. Renamed and significantly renovated as Shear Legacy Salon by new owners Megan Stone Hulsey and Laura Stone Miller, Davis’ old stomping ground remains in capable hands. The lead image was also taken during this evening session. Photography by Laura Cooper