Local barbershop opens as loving tribute after loss

D’IBERVILLE, Miss. (WXXV)- Opening a new business is never easy, but for one Coast family, it came while navigating an unimaginable loss.

WXXV News 25’s Spencer Pullen was in D’Iberville where one barbershop stands as a powerful tribute to faith, perseverance, and a mother’s love that lives on.

When customers walk into The Gentlemen’s Den, they’re stepping into more than a barbershop. They’re stepping into a dream that almost didn’t make it, one that turned grief into purpose and faith into forward motion.

For Patricia Jones, the chair, the mirror, the shop represents far more than a haircut. It represents faith, perseverance, and a dream nearly stopped by grief. “So, with opening The Gentleman’s Den, I actually wrote down like a plan on what I wanted to do. And when I wrote the plan, I had no idea, like it would, come to this. And so, I wrote it down and my mother always like brought us up on like the Bible verse. And so that pretty much just tells you to write your vision and then after you write your vision, then you know, order the step by step.”

She followed that vision step by step until life took a devastating turn. “The biggest hurdle was actually losing my mom within a week and a half of the actual open date. We were supposed to open at the end of October and I lost my mom October 21. So, I was definitely wasn’t interested in the opening anymore.”

“She always was my biggest cheerleader and now, you know, with having to get up and still like, um, persevere and continue through all the processes without being able to like share that with my mom, it was very disheartening.”

But through loss, Patricia found purpose. “I have two daughters as well. I instilled that in my daughters to always like, follow your dreams and let God lead you on that path no matter how hard it is.”

That strength doesn’t go unnoticed, especially by the ones who know her best. Daughter Kaleace Arnold said, “I’m very proud of my mom with opening up her barbershop. Just watching her keep going, come to work every day with a smile on her face, even though she’s dealing with a lot.”

Inside the Gentleman’s Den, smile tells a story of healing. “Nothing is a greater joy to make someone feel really good about themselves, like putting a smile on somebody’s face is the highlight of my day.”

A mother’s love, a daughter’s pride, and a legacy still be written. “I would think my grandma would tell my mom she’s very proud of her.”