SENIOR PROFILE
A Cut Above the Rest
By Todd Luck
Gerald Hutson has been cutting hair for
more than 70 years and attributes his longevity
and “blessed" life to his hard work
and God’s grace.
“I thank God for letting me enjoy the part of life that
He so gracefully let me have,” said Hutson, a member
of Piney Grove Baptist Church in Winston-Salem.
Hutson is owner of Bus Stop Barber Shop in Winston-
Salem. Hutson, 84, said he started cutting hair at age
13 in his native country of Barbados as a way to make
money. He fell in love with being a barber and
has been cutting hair ever since, even as he worked
other jobs.
The middle of nine children, Hutson came to America
in 1957 looking for a better life and said he found one.
After moving around the country doing various jobs,
he settled in New York state, where he was a corrections
officer. There he earned his barber’s license and
opened up his own shop. He prides himself in always
having worked hard during his career, often working
two jobs at a time, and never having taken a hand-out
from anyone. He was married to the late Annie
Hutson for more than 53 years and has four children
and six grandchildren.
After retiring, Hutson moved to Winston-Salem and
in 2000 he transformed his mother-in-law’s former
house into his barber shop. He had to start over and
earn a new clientele and now he enjoys a loyal customer
base that includes lawyers, teachers, pastors
and many others.
“When I moved, I had no customers, but I said to
myself, ‘Let the work that I do speak for me,’” he said.
Named for a bus stop that used to be near the building,
his shop features a parking lot in the back, a large
waiting room that gets filled during busy times, and a
hair cutting area with three chairs, two sinks, mirrors
and plenty of room for all the tools of his trade. He
tries to have a pleasant, Christian atmosphere in his shop. A
“No Profanity” sign is displayed prominently and music
from 1340 AM The Light gospel station plays through a
stereo at all times. This is particularly appropriate since the
building used to house Temple Church of God, which was
pastored by his mother-in-law, Lelar Venson.
Hutson has had many barbers to work under him over the
years; his protégés tend to move out on their own after
they’ve learned under his wing. Anthony Brown has been
cutting hair at the shop for three years. He said Hutson gave
him a chance when no one else would and changed his life.
He said Hutson is a father figure to him and many young
black men in the community.
“He’s a hero to guys like me,” said Brown.
Bus Stop Barber Shop is located at 1302 East Fourth
St. in Winston-Salem and is open Tuesday-Friday from
9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The
shop can be reached at 336-722-1902.
Todd Luck is a reporter for the Chronicle. This story first appeared
in the Chronicle and is reprinted by permission.
14 FOR SENIORS ONLY!
Gerald Hutson cuts the hair of a customer in his shop