Warner Robins’ Joellen Knight, 75, lost an eye to shingles but continues to cut people’s hair part-time.
Warner Robins, GA — The owner of Warner Robins Classic Hair Design says he’s been cutting hair for over 50 years. She says she is the city’s longest-serving hairdresser.
Classic Hair Designs is always full of laughter.
“Oh, I love it. To me, it’s like family. They’re my family,” said Joelen Knight.
A 75-year-old knight owns the salon. When she was a teenager, she started cutting people’s hair for pageants and proms.
“I was the one that you could show me the pictures of and I could do it,” Knight said.
It’s been easy for her for years. That was the case until four years ago.
“When I lost my eye to shingles, it became a challenge for me. I wasn’t really ready to give it up,” Knight said.
Knight says shingles wasn’t going to stop her.
“I said I could tie my hair in Braille. I was kidding, but it’s hard at my age. But God has been nice to me,” Knight said.
She currently works at Glasseye.
“I had shingles in my eye, and I’ve had shingles 4 times. I’ve had 4 corona transplants and didn’t get them. When I took them to the hospital, I was diagnosed with MRSA in my eye right after the surgery.” It got in and I had to take it out quickly because it could have infected my brain.I took my eyes off it and went back to work.I didn’t skip a beat.I just got back to work,” Knight said. Said.
“She’s been through it all,” Christine Medina said. “She had to be really down to stay home and not come to work. She wore eye patches for years before having implants.” I was working as a teacher,” he said.
Medina also cuts her hair at Classic Hair Designs. She looks up to Knight like her grandmother.
“I don’t know anyone as strong-willed as her. She’s a bit of a red-haired Spitfire and it’s going to take a lot of time to keep her down,” Medina said.
Knight has been styling his hair since 1975, according to Pat Joyner.
“I call her Joe. Sometimes I call her Jolen,” Joyner said.
Joyner says her personality inspires her.
“We’re just having fun. Chatting, talking, cutting,” Joyner said.
And for more than 58 years, small talk turned into laughter.
“Her story is interesting. She’ll get the whole salon involved,” Medina said.
“The girls keep me going. They keep me running for my money,” Knight said.
Knight will soon turn 76 and has no plans to retire anytime soon. She works part-time and in a day she gets 8 haircuts.
At the age of 19, he ran his first salon. Knight has written a book about her experience with shingles.
