LEXINGTON —
Fifty years ago everyone knew who their neighbors were and probably spent time visiting with them on the porch. Families usually went to town maybe once a week, usually on Saturday. That trip to town included a stop by the local barber shop every two or three weeks for a trim. In Lexington that barber would have been Billy Zeigler who is celebrating his 50th year cutting hair for most all the residents of Lexington and the surrounding communities.
The familiar barber pole with its turning red and white stripes that signals when the shop is open is still on the side of the building to let everyone know Mr. Zeigler is open for business and ready for a good lively conversation.
The barber shop was a meeting place for friends and a good location for catching up on all the current news and, sometimes, gossip as well as a place to get a trim while enjoying the conversation.
All of the four or five generations of boys who got their first haircuts in Mr. Zeigler’s chair at City Barbershop were treated to a piece of bubble gum to make the experience a little less stressful and something to look forward to. Even the girls and small children that weren’t there for their own haircut were allowed to have a piece of bubble gum.
Mr. Zeigler, a native of Holmes County, served in the U.S. Air Force from 1954 to 1957 where he was a mechanic in the Strategic Air Command working on the U2 spy plane.
After returning from service he went back to school to earn his high school diploma. After graduating he worked as a surveyor for A.P. Carroll and in 1960 he attended barber school in Jackson where he worked as a barber until returning to Lexington in 1962.
In Lexington he worked with Jimmy Edwards next door to the Riley Company on the southwest corner of the square. In 1962 the barber shop moved into the Ellison Building on the West side of the square. After Mr. Orin Westbrook until Mr. Westbrook left Lexington a few years later. About 20 years ago the shop moved into the building it currently occupies on Spring Street just off the square.
Both Mr. Zeigler and his wife, the former Mary Ann Mayo, are natives of Holmes County. Mrs. Zeigler worked for First National Bank (now BankPlus) in Lexington until her retirement after 50 years about a year ago. She was assistant vice president at her retirement.
City Barber Shop, commonly known by most residents as Billy’s Barber Shop is full of mementoes from the 50 years that Mr. Zeigler has been a barber. Items on shelves and hanging on the wall include a 1926 Remington calendar, a number of stuffed deer heads and assorted animals, as well as a bulletin board with photos and business cards that include current businesses as well as many from the past.
One of Mr. Zeigler’s prized possessions in the shop is an antique shoeshine chair with marble slabs. He said it was a gift from former Lexington resident Joe Berman. Mr. Zeigler said the chair came from the railroad station in Durant.
Mr. and Mrs. Zeigler have two sons, Michael, who currently resides in Brandon, and Ricky, who died in a car accident in 1987, and two grandchildren.
Features
Related Photos
-
Billy Zeiger and wife Mary Ann in front of City Barber Shop in Lexington Courtesy Photo
Lexington barber celebrates 50 years of offering service
- Features
-
-
The Nation’s Capitol: Ethel High School students see sites in Washington, D.C.
Usually students spend spring break in activities totally foreign to education – not so with a group of Ethel High School students. Although they did not attend classes, ten EHS students feel they furthered their education during the five days of spring break spent in Washington D.C.
-
Flashbacks
May 23, 1963
When Mary Ellen Scarborough steps across the stage of the Kosciusko High School auditorium to receive her diploma on Friday evening, she will be the third child of Rev. and Mrs. Ben C. Scarborough to finish Kosciusko High with a perfect attendance record. Benjy, who finished KHS in 1959, will be graduating from Mississippi College on June 2. Jack, who finished KHS in 1961, graduated from Holmes Junior College on May 19. All three have been active in student, church, and community affairs and have been honor roll and dean’s list students. -
Relay for Life raises funds
Attala County Relay for Life was held May 10 in the Attala County Coliseum due to threat of rain. The event raised approximately $60,0000. See the photos attached for more about the event.
-
Pioneer Day:Annual French Camp event provided activities for all ages
The historic district in French Camp, located adjacent to the Natchez Trace Parkway, was transformed into an area reminiscent of olden days.
-
Flashbacks
May 16, 1963
The Redbud has been named as Kosciusko’s official tree and the rose as the official flower in a recent promotion of the Kosciusko Garden Club. The project was carried out by the garden club in connection with the Clean Up, Fix Up, Paint Up campaign now in progress. Among other trees suggested were magnolia, dogwood and pine. Running a close race with the rose was the iris, and the dahlia. -
Elvis and a snake. . . Oh my!
Ethel’s 31st May Day brings out people for shopping, food and entertainment Saturday. Here are photos from the day's activties.
-
Flashbacks
May 9, 1963
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Lacey have received notification from the South America Indian Mission that they have been accepted as missionaries. They have been assigned to the country of Bolivia where the mission has been working since 1926. Lacy is presently serving as the Director of Christian Education in the First Presbyterian Church in Kosciusko. -
Long Creek holds motivational rally for upcoming state testing
More than 200 students and parents filled the Long Creek Elementary Gym in Sallis on May 2 for a pep rally to energize students for the upcoming state test.
-
Area native remembers her days as Senate page
Alice Faye Roberts Leslie, 95 year-old Weatherford, TX resident, made a recent trip to her native Mississippi and visited briefly in Attala and Leake Counties with relatives and reminisced about days of her youth.
-
Natchez Trace Festival photos
Check out these photos from the 44th Annual Natchez Trace Festival held in Downtown Kosciusko Saturday.
- More Features Headlines
-
Officials: Truck Hit Bridge Before Collapse
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
"Be Ready": NOAA Warns of Busy Hurricane Season
SeaWorld: Penguins Are Coolest Thing in Florida
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
