b'REMEMBERGene Howard: Leader, Humble, Soft-SpokenBy Jennifer Southerland presidential campaign. startedtherezoningprocessbefore Mr.SoutherlandbelievedthatDad passed away and he was so excit-ed! The cafe is located in the space the churchdidntalwaystakeplaceon G eneHowardSoutherlandwasSundaymornings.Whilehisshopbeauty shop used to occupy and will born June 14, 1940 in Bridgeport,wasclosedonMondays,hewouldfeature artisan sandwiches on home-Connecticut, to a family of 13 siblings.makevisitstonursinghomesandmade focaccia bread and coffee. He trained as a barber until he com- performhaircutsonthesickandMom,whopassedawayMarch17, pletedschoolin1962,whenhewasshut in at no charge.He would also2011, was a wonderful cook and con-draftedintotheUnitedStatesArmy.givefreehaircutstohomelesscli- summateentertainer,Imsureshe He arrived in Colorado Springs in 1963entstohelpthemgainemployment.wouldhavebeenveryexcited,too. where he was assigned as a barber atMr.SoutherlandenjoyedshoppingThere are items on the menu that pay FortCarsonuntilhewashonorablyatsecond-handstoresregularlyfortribute to both of them.dischargedin1964anddecidedtohats, gloves, scarves, coats, canes and make Colorado Springs home. walkers-torandomlygivethemtoOurparentsbelieveditwastheir In 1966, he met the love of his life,homeless people or low income fami- social responsibility to lift the commu-RitaJewett,andtheyweremarriedlies if they needed them.nity up so we can all live better lives, thefollowingyear.Mr.Southerlandsays Michele Medley, we feel its our decided it was time to follow his ownMr.Southerlandpassedawaydueresponsibility to carry on that legacy to dreamsandopenedMr.GsBarberto non-covid related causes Februarythe next generations. Shop at 603 South El Paso Street.In28,2021,buthisfamilyiscarrying the beginning, it was a small modularGene Howard Southerland on his legacy.His children, Michele unit with the barbershop and BoutiqueMedley, Nicholas Medley and Jennifer of Beauty, an old fashioned press andSoutherland,havekeptthebarber-curlsalonownedbysistersLeslierunningBlackownedbusinessesinshop open - now managed by RonnieWhile his shop was Daniels and Wilma Bumpers. Colorado Springs. Tolbert.Ron worked with Dad for 36closed on Mondays, He faced considerable resistance toMr.Southerlandbelievedingivingyears, says Jennifer, he is family to his plans to expand, but he was deter- back to the community as a life mem- us.Keeping this shop open would nothe would make visits be possible without him. And we are mined.He became the chairman of theber of the NAACP and the Prince Halleternally grateful that Dads customersto nursing homes and Shooks Run Neighborhood AssociationMasonsofColoradoSprings.He for three years, where he met the Vicewas not only a husband, brother andhave continued to support him. perform haircuts on the MayorLeonYoungwhohelpedhimfather, but a mentor. He made dona- Mr.Southerlandsfamilyarealso get the zoning approval he needed totions to numerous non-profit organiza- adding to his legacy with the openingsick and shut in at no expand his business.In 1977, Mr. GstionsservingtheHillSidecommunityofVivaceGourmetCafeandBoxedcharge.BarberShopgrewintoMr.GsHairand Colorado Springs, he even donatedLunchCatering,inFebruary2022, DesignStudios,oneofthelongestoffice space to the 2008 Obama/BidenownedandoperatedbyJennifer.I COLORADO SPRINGSADVERTISEYOUR CHURCH HERE! email information to:info@bocnews.comBODY OF CHRIST NEWS FEBRUARY 2022 17'