![]() Conway established other businesses in the community: a Phillips 66 Gas Station, a Car and Tire Repair Shop, a BBQ and Seafood Restaurant, an Ice Cream Parlor and a Clothing Boutique servicing the beloved Fairmont community where they lived. But they didn’t stop at that one business. There you could find Percy “cuttin’ up some heads” and Meya “whippin’ up some hairdos”. Soon, he acquired a plot of land on Riley Avenue and in 1966, Conway’s Hi-Styling Barber and Beauty Shop opened. He has been quoted saying, “When you’ve got nothing, you start looking for something and if you don’t find it, you build it”. Percy’s real estate training afforded him the skills to rehabilitate and sell houses in his community. Later, he underwent training in real estate and became a licensed realtor all while studying business at Joliet Junior College. ![]() The Joliet and Lockport areas were blossoming for Black businesses in the 1950s, which led Percy to Weeden Barber College earning him a barber license. So it was no surprise when Percy followed suit. Percy’s father and uncles picked cotton but also operated their own businesses in Mississippi. Entrepreneurship was deeply embedded in the Conway family roots. This sparked an interest in going into business together. The two shared a love not only for flowers and gardening, but also for beauty, cooking, and bringing people together. ![]() Christmas Eve of 1955 was the day Percy and Meya wed and four children were born of this union. Walton and continued serving under the direction of his son-in-law, Pastor Richard D. Percy later became a Trustee under the leadership of the late Pastor James W. Percy met and courted the late Armelia “Meya” Parham and joined her in membership at Shiloh Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Pastor Albert Harris. In 1953, Percy received an honorable discharge from the United States Army and returned to Illinois. Several months into battle, Percy was promoted through multiple rankings including Corporal, Staff Sergeant and ultimately promoted to Sergeant First Class. He was then shipped to battle on the frontline in South Korea with the ranking of Private First Class to fight for his country in the Korean War. After basic training, Percy was assigned to the 40th Infantry Division. He was stationed at Fort Breckenridge in Kentucky, where he completed basic training. Corporation) before being drafted into the United States Army in October of 1951. Shortly after graduation, Percy relocated to Illinois and for a short time, Percy worked at Mastic Tile (known today as G.A.F. Percy was the last surviving graduate of his class. Sacred Heart is where one of his first mentors, Sister Dolorosa, taught him the importance of holding his head high in the segregated Jim Crow South – something that influenced and motivated him throughout his life. She performed cleaning of schoolyard buses in exchange for her children to attend school and this allowed Percy to become a proud graduate of Sacred Heart Catholic School in 1950. Percy’s mother was a champion of education. He was affectionately known to his family as “Pa Pa” (pronounced “Paw Paw”) or “Uncle Buddy” and respected in his community as “Mr. Percy accepted Christ at an early age at Clarks Chapel of Madison County, MS. The only son born in the middle of seven sisters, Percy was born on Apin Camden, MS to Owens and Hattie Simpson Conway. Conway Percy Calvin Conway, entrepreneur and master barber, peacefully transitioned to his Heavenly home on Monday, Septemsurrounded by his family.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |