BOSS ARTICLES- EDITION 1 - Mother's Day Tribute

Shirley's Beauty Salon

After 25 years in the workforce, Ms. Shirley refused to punch another clock

The year was 1965, and during that year, it was Shirley Moody's first day at Sears Catalog located in Atlanta's Midtown area (Currently Ponce City Market). Being 20 years old and ready to start working a solid job to maintain her independent lifestyle. On Shirley's first day at work, the company was changing the dynamic of racial segregation by integrating the atmosphere and taking down the signs, "Colors Only and White's Only." Ms. Shirley, being born in the 1940s, from Roanoke, AL, was not accustomed to the racial tension that Atlanta, GA, brought. She was raised to be a forward and confident thinker and around very successful black people who demanded respect, had land, and were the necessity of their town, so she entered the workforce as a Black Queen ready to make her mark and grow with the company. During her tenure at Sears, Mrs. Shirley married the love of her life, birthed three boys, bought her first home in an all-white neighborhood (near Grant Park). Being the first black family on the street during the '70s, she didn't endure racial tension when she became a homeowner. Still, her neighbors welcomed her family to the neighborhood, and she remained true to herself and black essence. Mrs. Shirley grew with the company starting in Warehouse, Insurance Department, and end in the Personnel Department (Human Resources). She also raised her Granddaughter and often took her to work with her while she worked for Sears. Mrs. Shirley used her position to ensure fair employment opportunities for many people she knew. She implemented new processes and was awarded for her innovation in streamlining workflow and provided proper sanitation initiatives to avoid cross-contamination with the company utilities. Ms. Shirley truly made her mark. Then in 1990, the Sears catalog started to go out of business, and many people would lose their job. Sears did not leave Ms. Shirley hanging and offered her, along with 100 selected employees, an opportunity to pivot their career goals. Sears offered to pay for her to go to a two-year school.

Mrs.Shirley decided to go to Cosmetology school and start her dream to open a Hair Salon. After being laid off, Mrs. Shirley embarked on her hair school journey and completed schoolWhile in school, she used her kitchen to practice hair techniques to build her skills as she was new to this industry. For a few years, she rented a booth at two hair salons to start her career in the Cosmetology Business. While renting a booth, she purchased property on the Westside of Atlanta that needed a lot of love and rehabilitation, so she saved for the required rehab to turn an old structure into her Hair Salon. In life, unforeseen occurrences happen. While the property she purchased was in no condition to utilize, Mrs. Shirley had to leave the Salon immediately due to issues with the Salon owners. She swift into action found contractors that stole her money, and she still didn't stop. After hard work and help from friends and family, Ms. Shirley opened her Salon, Shirley's Beauty Salon, in the mid-'90s on the Westside of the City of Atlanta. She purchased a duplex property, so she created additional income by renting the second living space to local college students and people in need.

After 30 years in the hair business, Mrs. Shirley is still in operation and my favorite Hair Stylist because she is my amazing Grandmother. She fulfilled the promise to herself to "Never punch another time clock again." Nowadays, her business is slow due to COVID and her being in her WONDERFUL YEARS. She has always been an appointment-only establishment, even during the days she rented a booth, and at 76 years old, she is moving closer to retirement. Shirley's Beauty Salon is the first black business I ever knew and the first Business Owner in our family. Mrs. Shirley is genuinely a lowkey staple to the City of Atlanta and has given so much to her community. Mrs. Shirley is a proud Jehovah's Witness, Loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Aunt, Friend, and she is appreciated for her service to her family and business. This article is a way to give my Grandmother her flowers while she is living and well. To also know she is so impactful to the lives of so many. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Written By: Tanisha Smith (Perez) Owner and Operator of Write For You Business Services