POSH Color Bar Owner Gigi Lund, Ms. Margaret Phillips and District 3 Commissioner Rhett Rowell. Photo by Allison Clark Photography.
Margaret Reaves Phillips of Jay was honored for her 35 years of excellent service to the community during the April 9 launch of POSH Color Bar’s product line, POSH Color Care.
POSH Owner Gigi Lund, who grew up in Jay, says Phillips was her mentor, teaching her patiently about the business. Lund eventually went on open her own salon in Pace before moving to historic downtown Milton nearly 5 years ago.
“It is essential to recognize and honor the mentors and trailblazers who paved the way before us, as our achievements are built upon their vision, resilience, and guidance. Ms. Margaret is truly deserving of recognition for her exceptional business acumen during a time when women business owners were far less represented,” said Lund, adding, “The beauty business isn’t just big—it’s one of the most powerful industries in the world because it sits at the intersection of: self-expression; confidence; wellness; and culture. “That’s why women like Ms. Margaret are so significant—building businesses in this space, especially earlier on, meant tapping into a market that’s now worth hundreds of billions – and shaping it before it exploded into an industry worth over $110 Billion dollars globally.”
Santa Rosa County District 3 Commissioner Rhett Rowell presented the award to Phillips.
“What an honor it was to be asked to speak about Ms. Margaret Phillips as she received a lifetime achievement award by Posh Color Bar,” Rowell stated. “Ms. Margaret has been a pillar in the Jay community all her life as a successful business woman and as an example on how to do things the right way.”
Rowell pointed out how a beauty shop is the “heart” of a small town and how clients would share the good and bad times of their lives with stylists, who also served as their therapists. Rowell said over the years Phillips had also sponsored youth sports. “She’s always been there for Jay Elementary and Jay High School.”
Three stylists worked with Phillips over the years: Nancy Prescott, Theresa McCaskill, and Sheila LeBrou. “It was like Steel Magnolias,” said Rowell,
The award presented to Phillips states: “Honoring a woman whose leadership, vision, and dedication have shaped the business community of Santa Rosa County. Your lifetime of achievement, resilience, and impact inspires others, uplifts women, and leaves a legacy of excellence for years to come.”
“Thank you. I love this. I love you, too,” Phillips told Lund.
Phillips is a Santa Rosa County native, who was the youngest of six children born into a farming family. Her dad, H.T. Woodruff Jr., taught agriculture at Jay High School, where she graduated in 1963. Her mom was a stay-at-home mom, caring for their large family.
Margaret went on to attend Pensacola Beauty College, which was located in downtown Pensacola. She married her first husband, Waylon Reaves, and they had one daughter, Tracee, who attended the celebration.
After Waylon passed away from a heart attack at the age of 48, Margaret went on to marry Cecil Phillips, who was the town pharmacist. They enjoyed many years together.
Tracee now teaches at Sims Middle School. She married Scott Driver and has a daughter, Camille Chalela, who has also become a pharmacist.
The hair salon where Margaret had started working, Eloise’s, was bought by Theda Bray, who changed the name to Family Hair Design. In the 1980’s, Margaret took over ownership. She & Tracee would travel to market in Atlanta and bring back the latest fashion trends. She also added a nail and tanning services to the salon.
Margaret worked long hours, sometimes starting at 5:30 a.m. or finishing at 10 p.m. She said girls like Gigi, who hung out at the salon, were a “blessing,” helping her with tasks like answering the phone or shampooing hair. She also talked about how helpful it was for Tracee to take care of chores at the house.
Over the decades she helped many of the local girls get ready for proms or beauty pageants, creating lasting memories.
“I am so proud of (Gigi),” Margaret said in closing.
POSH Color Bar is located at 6815 Caroline Street in historic downtown Milton. Services include: hair coloring/styling, lashes, infrared sauna, spray tan, wax, facials, makeup, and massages. For more information contact 850-287-4100 or poshcolorbar@gmail.com. You can also follow them on Facebook via https://www.facebook.com/Poshcolorbar.
Additionally, Lund owns Post Party, which offers rental of Tents, Outdoor Heaters, Lights, Outdoor Fans, Tables, Dance Floor, Bistro Tables, Table Cloths, PA Systems, Arbors & much more. For more info call 850-905-7866 or visit www.poshpartypace.com.
