(This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights Cuttin’ Up Hair Stylist DeAna Davis.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born June 4, 1970 in Gretna, La.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I finished high school at West Jones and went to Mississippi College of Beauty Culture in Laurel.
Q: What was your childhood like?
A: I grew up in my early childhood in Marrero, La., with my great uncle, Horse Lovett. Then I moved to Jones County right before high school. I had a pretty good childhood. We rode bicycles and played with sticks; we didn’t have technology. But I loved to ride my bike.
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: I’m a hair stylist at Cuttin’ Up and have been here a little over eight years. We do mainly cuts but also color and styling for both men and women.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: I started cutting hair when I was 10 years old in Marrero and cut everybody’s hair in the neighborhood. I graduated high school, went straight to beauty school and have been doing hair ever since. I just enjoy making people feel good about themselves.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: I love the interaction with people and meeting new people. I actually drive almost an hour every day to work here, and people ask me all the time why I don’t get a job where I live. My reason is I’ve met so many good people in this community, and I just enjoy coming over here. With the people I’ve met here, I don’t want to leave them.
Q: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
A: Kids. Sometimes young kids want to fight you getting a haircut. YouTube videos and Paw Patrol seems to calm them down a bit.
Q: What advice would you give someone considering your career path?
A: I actually taught technical after beauty school, and the one thing that I’ve learned from Louisiana and Georgia is they don’t focus on teaching you how to cut hair in beauty school. You need to focus on cutting hair. People can color your hair all day long, but if the cut isn’t right it’s not going to look good. If you really want to do it, you really need to focus on cutting.
Q: What was your first job?
A: It was actually at J. C. Penney hair salon in Laurel.
Q: Who is the person who has been most influential in your life?
A: My great uncle Horse. He was a Pentecostal preacher and was actually a holiness preacher. He was a very, very good man that taught me God is first in everything. He was definitely the most influential person in my life.
Q: What is your spouse’s name?
A: Steve. He works at Puckett Machinery.
Q: Do you have children?
A: I have two children, Price, 30, and Hannah, 26.
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: Mexican food. I love the steak fajita salad at Azteca.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: I want to go to France and experience the different culture. I grew up in New Orleans, and there’s a little bit of the French culture there.
Q: What hobbies do you like to do in your spare time?
A: My spare time consists of taking care of my grandbabies. Whenever I have off time it’s spending time with them and taking them to do fun stuff like trick-or-treating. I have three; Millie is 8, Cash is 5 and Karly is 3.
Q: What do you enjoy about Columbia and Marion County?
A: I enjoy the people. I’ve met so many good people here that I love to see them come in the door. I love the community.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: My grandmother, Mary Black. I miss her. She’s been gone since 2008. She was a very sweet lady, and I miss her every day.
Q: If you didn’t have to worry about money, what would you do all day?
A: I would sit on an island with a little umbrella drink. I’ve planned this for when I hit the lottery.
Q: Would you rather read a good book or watch a good movie and why?
A: Watch a good movie because my mind runs so much that if I try to read I really can’t focus on it. Movies kind of draw me in.
Q: What moment in your life has had the biggest impact on who you are today?
A: The best thing that’s happened in my life has been meeting my husband. He’s been the biggest change in my life. We just got married this year and started dating three years ago. I’ve just finally found peace and happiness in my life.
Q: What would be the No. 1 thing on your Bucket List?
A: I want to go traveling. I would love to hit all of the European countries then go to all of the Caribbean islands. I’ve been to the Bahamas, but there’s more of them down there I’d like to hit.
Q: If you could describe your morals in three words, what would they be?
A: Honesty, fun-loving and caring.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: As an honest, caring person. I try to teach my kids honesty is the best policy. That’s what I live by is tell me the truth.
— Joshua Campbell
