DeLux Barber Shop

DeLuxe Barber Shop was located at 133 Person Street in Fayetteville. It was listed in the Green Book as “Delux---Person St.” under “Barber Shops” from 1939 - 1941, as “Deluxr---Pesno St.” under “Barber Shops” from 1947 - 1953, and as “Delux, Pesno St.” under “Barber Shops” from 1954 - 1955. William L. Dixon, who worked as a barber at the shop in the late 1930s, later owned a different Green Book business called the Bedford Inn.¹ 

The buildings formerly located at 133-135 Person Street were constructed in 1910. Deluxe Barber Shop (sometimes stylized as DeLuxe Barber Shop) was one of the many African American businesses located on this block of Person Street during the Green Book era. Deluxe was in operation by the late 1930s and was originally owned by Henry H. Covington and James H. Smith. Smith was no longer listed as an owner by 1939; Covington ran the barber shop until his death in 1952.²

Henry Hester Covington was born in Laurinburg, North Carolina in 1904. He moved to Fayetteville in the 1920s or 1930s and married Paulette R. “Pallie” Covington, an elementary school teacher. The couple lived at 225 Moore Street in Cross Creek Township and, later, at 442 Ray Avenue.³

Pallie Covington assumed ownership of the barber shop after Henry’s death in 1952. A manager for the shop, Hector-McEarchen, was listed in the city directory in 1956. The barber shop remained open until at least the mid-1960s.⁴

Pallie R. Covington passed away in 1988. The building at 133 Person Street was demolished in 2014.⁵

Essay by Brandie K. Ragghianti, 2022

Notes

1. Victor Green, 1939 Green Book, p. 32; Green, 1940 Green Book, p. 35; Green, 1941 Green Book, p. 35; Victor Green, 1947 Green Book, p. 64; Green, 1948 Green Book, p. 62; Green, 1949 Green Book, p. 56; Green, 1950 Green Book, p. 62; Green, 1951 Green Book, p. 53; Green, 1952 Green Book, p. 53; Green, 1953 Green Book, p. 53; Victor Green, 1954 Green Book, p. 53; Green, 1955 Green Book, p. 53; Hill’s 1937 Fayetteville City Directory, p. 83 (alphabetical listing); Hill’s 1939 Fayetteville City Directory, 88 (alphabetical listing). 
2. Andrew Barksdale, “Historic Fayetteville Buildings Scheduled to be Razed,” last updated July 7, 2014, The Fayetteville Observer, accessed December 21, 2019;  Hill’s 1937 Fayetteville City Directory, 83 (alphabetical listing);  Hill’s 1937 Fayetteville City Directory, 83 (alphabetical listing); Henry Hester Covington, March 3, 1952, Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, US Death Certificates, 1909 - 1976, accessed from www.ancestry.com. 
3. Henry Hester Covington, March 3, 1952, North Carolina, U.S. Death Certificates, 1909-1976, accessed from www.ancestry.com; 1910 United States Federal Census, Stewartsville Township, Scotland County, North Carolina, digital image s.v. “Henry Covington,” accessed from www.ancestry.com; 1920 United States Federal Census, Stewartsville Township, Scotland County, North Carolina, digital image s.v. “Henry Covington,” accessed from www.ancestry.com; Hill’s 1397 Fayetteville City Directory, 83 (alphabetical listing); 1950 United States Federal Census, 442 Ray Avenue, Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, digital image s.v. “Henry H. Covington,” accessed from www.ancestry.com; Hill’s 1951 Fayetteville City Directory, 116 (street listing), 120 (alphabetical listing). 
4. Hill’s 1953 Fayetteville City Directory, 120 (alphabetical listing), 102 (alphabetical listing); Hill’s 1956 Fayetteville City Directory, 108 (alphabetical listing); Hill’s 1958 Fayetteville  City Directory, 767 (street listing), 355 (alphabetical listing); Hill’s 1963 Fayetteville City Directory, 172 (street listing), 149 (alphabetical listing).
5. Pallie R. Covington, April 27, 1988, US Social Security Application and Claims Index, 1936 - 2007, accessed from www.ancestry.com; Andrew Barksdale, “Historic Fayetteville Buildings Scheduled to be Razed,” last updated July 7, 2014, The Fayetteville Observer, accessed December 21, 2019.