Felisha Conyers with husband Michael, Lane Mayor Charlie Fulton, outgoing Kingstree Town Manager Richard Treme, and Councilwoman Jackie Hailes celebrate at the ribbon cutting event.
Photo by Nichole Livengood
The Williamsburg HomeTown Chamber held a ribbon cutting for Styles N Smiles new location on 141 N. Academy Street on Thursday, January 25. The hair salon is owned by Kingstree native, Felisha Conyers.
Conyers, whose maiden name is Gamble, is a graduate of Kingstree Senior High School Class of 2003. She was an Honor Roll student and Drill Team Commander from 9th-12th grade. Fresh out of high school, Conyers went to basic training and served in the National Guard for four years.
She says she started doing hair because when she was growing up, her mama could not do hair.
“I was doing hair at mom’s house from the ninth grade on up,” she says. She was only braiding back then. She studied under instructor Charmaine Green and graduated from Williamsburg Technical College in 2007. Conyers worked under Edna Nesmith of Hair Gallery and worked with Abla Pearson at Hair Studio for 11 1/2 years, before going out on her own and opening Styles N Smiles on Thurgood Marshall Hwy.
“I told God I wanted to do more,” she says. “I asked him to bless me so I could bless my community.” She drew up a plan for the salon of her dreams. Ten years later, she stands in the exact floor plan. The building stands on the corner of Academy Street and Mill Street. Natural light streams in from the many windows. Cool, neutral paint colors add to the sense of style and calm.
“I said, Lord, this is what I want, and everything I drew is in here today,” says Conyers.
Conyers thanked her husband Michael and children Jasyn, Chloe and Jamarcus.
Outgoing Kingstree Town Manager Richard Treme also spoke at the event. He said the city had been praying for someone to come in and do something with the building. “We know a lot of effort and money went into this beautiful building. We encourage the community to support her,” he says.
Jackie Hailes spoke on behalf of Williamsburg Supervisor Kelvin Washington and County Council. She extended their congratulations, and welcomed Conyers to the street where all of the happenings are. She also congratulated the town on their job of revitalizing Kingstree’s downtown.
Hailes said she remembers when Conyers was washing hair in her mama’s kitchen sink. “This is your destination, right here,” she says. She cited Deuteronomy 30:9, “Those hands are going to prosper.”
Pastor Linwood Cooper led the crowded salon in prayer. The event was catered by Connie’s Bakery.
Styles N Smiles is currently hiring licensed hair stylists, nail technicians, and locs technicians. Customers can book appointments for men, women and children online at www.stylesnsmileshairsalon.com. For questions or more information, call (843) 355-3444.
