Esther
was raised in rural North Carolina without the luxuries many
enjoy today but her family bestowed upon her a love that she
will never forget. Unlike many children today Esther did not
suffer through a broken home life, abuse, alcoholic parents,
financial ruin or domestic arguments. Her formative years occurred
in a loving family setting – where
family values came first. Esther credits much of her success
and happiness in life to this upbringing.
Life on the farm was rough and dirty work, however,
and Esther, being drawn to the glamorous and beautiful
side of things, was eager to see the bright lights
of the big city. She made her way to New York City at seventeen
and life was never the same. It took several years before
she enrolled in Beauty School and once there she knew she
had found her calling. She fell in love with the education,
techniques, customers, variety, glamour and excitement she
experienced every day in the School and her enthusiasm and
talent brought her quick recognition.
Her schooling began in one of the premier regional schools,
Troutman’s
College of Hairstyling in Wilmington, NC. There she was exposed to the best
instructors and moral conduct of the time. After graduation Esther quickly began
to find recognition and success when she took her first job as stylist for
a large department store in Raleigh, the state capital of North Carolina. She
had done so well the first few days that she was shortly promoted
to Head Stylist of the salon. Customers were soon showing up from all over the
state for Esther’s special touch.
Esther then moved to Athens, Georgia while her husband
attended Veterinarian Medical College and she quickly established her credentials and reputation
for working miracles with her “magic fingers” on
her many customers. She continued to improve her talents
and exposure by attending advanced classes, cosmetology conventions
and entering competitions.
The thrill of competing and winning never grew old with
Esther and she would pour all her energy and talent into
every competition, both as participant and later as a
coach and trainer, as she taught others the skills necessary
to become champions. She later achieved regional fame as Instructor and Trainer as
her students won over 200 trophies, often sweeping the top three places
in competition. She then received national and international recognition after two
successful trips as Trainer, with different student teams, to the International
Beauty Show in New York and returning with the “World’s Supreme
Student Hair Styling Contest” Championship Trophy
in 1968 and then again in 1969.
Her Guest Artist appearances brought her into contact with many “stars” of
the industry such as Vidal Sasson. She also was exposed to many personalities
in the entertainment/political world such as Bob Denver “Gilligan” (coloring
his hair in her Raleigh salon), Priscilla Pressley (designing a hairstyle Priscilla
wanted to adopt) and President Gerald Ford (sitting next to him during
an awards presentation and enjoying an engaging conversation). She and her students also
worked on the “Hudsucker Proxy” in Wilmington,
NC, starring Paul Newman, Jennifer Jason Lee and Tim Robbins.
In 1981, Esther returned to her roots in eastern North Carolina and convinced
the local community college President that he needed to open a cosmetology school
as part of his curriculum. This began a new chapter in her life as she reestablished
herself close to her aging parents and trained many new students while building
a thriving school business for the college. She was named “Teacher of the
Year”, in 1986, for Brunswick Community College under the statewide “Awards
for Excellence in Teaching” program established by the State Board of Community
Colleges. Then, in 1989, she received the North Carolina, “Joe
Snoutherly Teacher of the Year” award from the North
Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners.
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