Eddie Smith retires after 70 years behind the chair

Story By Katie Hightower

On July 26, a retirement reception was held for local barber, Eddie Smith, on the Square outside of his barbershop. A large crowd of customers, friends and family gathered along the eastern sidewalk of the Square to wish Eddie good luck with his retirement and to welcome new owner, Ethan Scarberry. 

The new owner of Eddie’s Barbershop, Ethan Scarberry, began his career as a barber in 2018 at his father-in-law’s barbershop, Jack’s Barbershop, in Scottsboro. In January, Scarberry began working at Eddie’s. He then bought the business in June. Since the start of his career, Scarberry built a long list of regular customers. He was both nervous and excited about his opportunity.

“They are some big shoes to fill,” Scarberry said. “But I’m ready for it.”

The shoes Scarberry mentioned were the shoes of local legend and barber, Eddie Smith. For over 61 years, Eddie worked in Scottsboro as a barber and gained thousands of customers through the years. His barbershop became a landmark in Scottsboro that was a tradition in many families.

Eddie grew up in Rosalie in a family with ten kids and went to Pisgah High School. He began cutting hair at a young age and began working as a barber when he was a teenager. Eddie became known for his barbering and was offered a job at Johnny Townsel’s barbershop on Saturdays.

“I came from a family of ten kids out in Rosalie on Sand Mountain. My daddy always cut their hair and I got to messing around with his tools and cutting my younger brothers’ hair and got to cutting my neighborhood boys’ hair and finally, first thing I knew, I was a barber. I mean, that’s what somebody called me,” Eddie said. “Anyway, I didn’t know that when I started it, that it would be what I’d do for a living—but I tell people, ‘I guarantee, ain’t nobody made a living and had as much fun as I did.’" 

In 1964, Eddie began barbering on the Square in Scottsboro. His reputation and number of clients grew to the thousands and by 1977, Eddie was able to buy his own barber shop. Through the years, Eddie served countless customers in Jackson County. He averaged around 100 haircuts per week and his customers returned every four to five weeks.

Eddie’s barbershop became a Jackson County tradition where locals shared their stories, jokes and enjoyed each other’s company. Sports pennants of southern teams hung along the top the barbershop’s walls. 

“I just like them all. It must be the politician in me,” Eddie said with a laugh.

Eddie’s walls not only featured pennants, there were also pictures, jokes and memories with each item displayed. Eddie was proud of his People’s Choice awards he received. 

“I can’t fit all of them on the wall. I have about 25 of those,” he said.

A couple of Eddie’s favorite pictures were of Vic and Holland Griggs. Vic grew up in a barbershop with his father, Leonard Griggs. In 1965, Leonard was in the process of getting his barber license and he had Eddie cut Vic's hair for the first time. In 2007, Vic came back with his own son, Holland, to get his first haircut. Both pictures represented the tradition of Eddie’s barbering and how it was passed through generations.

Members of the Letcher Church of God set up a microphone with a speaker and played music for the crowd at the retirement party. Carlos Henshaw played guitar and Eddie’s pastor, Duran Teague, helped with it. Eddie served as the choir director at the Letcher Church of God for 47 years. The church recently celebrated Eddie Smith Day to honor Eddie for his service to the church. 

Eddie stepped up to the microphone and as he gave his farewell speech, he shared jokes and fond memories he carried with him through the years as Scottsboro's barber. At the end, shared the story behind one of his most cherished items on his wall. It was the last check he received from his customer, Bobby Troy. Throughout his speech, Eddie had shared many jokes and memories that included Bobby Troy. “About three weeks before Bob died, he paid me for a haircut with a check. And I looked at it when he left and down there written for what, he said, ‘a bad haircut.’ So he got me last,” said Eddie with a laugh.

As Eddie spoke, the crowd listened and laughed along with Eddie while they enjoyed cake and Kona Ice. Occasionally, people in the crowd nodded as they too remembered the stories Eddie shared. 

Eddie said he planned to use his retirement to take care of his wife, Faylene, spend time with family and golf. Eddie said he enjoyed golfing and had competed in the annual 12 Bushels Golf Tournament. “I’m a good golfer — at least, that’s what I say,” Eddie said as he smiled.

Eddie said his daughter, Erica, called it a bittersweet day. “You know, it is, kinda,” Eddie said. 

“I’ve been in public ever since I was 17 years old—cutting up and carrying on and I’m going to miss it but I’m looking forward to going home and just being a good husband to my wife and see what happens next.”