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- There was a steady stream of well-wishers on hand to send Hazel Moore off into retirement during a celebration of her life and career on Saturday May 4. (Photo: Will Weeks/Tri-State Defender)
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- Former County Commissioner Tami Sawyer signs in at Ms. Hazel’s celebration on May 4. (Photo: Will Weeks/Tri-State Defender)
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- Former U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton III offers kind words to a Whitehaven icon, Ms. Hazel Moore. (Photo: Will Weeks/Tri-State Defender)
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- One after another, people stepped forward to acknowledge the impact that the “Mayor of Whitehaven” has had on community. (Photo: Will Weeks/Tri-State Defender)
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- Kind words for a kind woman. (Photo: Will Weeks/Tri-State Defender)
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- Wishing Ms. Hazel the best! (Photo: Will Weeks/Tri-State Defender)
After 40 years of pioneering hairstyling in Whitehaven, Hazel Moore is closing the doors of Hazel’s Hair Fashions with a celebration that promises to honor her lasting impact on the community.
Friends and family, customers and community leaders stopped by the shop at 4105 Elvis Presley Blvd. on Saturday, May 4 to celebrate Moore’s extensive career and contributions.
Moore, who rejected a nursing career for cosmetology, has been a local fixture since opening her first salon in 1973. Known affectionately as the “Mayor of Whitehaven,” she has used her platform to lead community initiatives against drugs, teen pregnancy, and illiteracy, and to foster local pride through events like the Whitehaven Holiday Festival and Community Health Fair.
The salon’s closure marks the end of an era for a business that has served multiple generations, creating a loyal customer base of mothers, daughters, and granddaughters. Moore’s entrepreneurial spirit also led her to organize the first Tennessee Beautician’s Trade Show, further cementing her influence in Memphis’s beauty industry.
In addition to celebrating Moore’s professional legacy, the event will highlight her philanthropic efforts, particularly the Academy of Youth Empowerment, which she founded in 1993 to help teens develop social skills and improve academic performance.
Moore’s community work has earned her numerous awards, including the Pioneer Memphis Business Award and multiple recognitions from the American Heart Association. Her life’s work showcases a commitment to empowering others and enhancing the community fabric of Whitehaven.
As Moore plans to continue her philanthropic efforts beyond her business career, the event servesd as a platform to both reflect on her past achievements and rally the community for ongoing support and engagement.
