Photos and audio by Isaac Smith

After high school, David “Purp” Lavender took a chance on barber school and has been cutting hair ever since.

After a period in the Army, including two tours in Vietnam, Lavender came back to work at Gibbs Barber Shop, one of 18 barbershops in Murphysboro at the time. Now, Lavender said, Gibbs is the only barbershop in town and has served several generations of Murphysboro families. Along with a quality haircut, Lavender said the people who come into Gibbs are as much friends as they are customers.