Blonnie Hailey Livingston, born on May 29. 1939 to the late Walter and Gradie Hailey in Anson County, was called home early Saturday morning July 27, 2024, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She was the second of 6 children.

She graduated from West Ansonville High School in 1956 and went on to Winton Salem where she went to school and received an associate degree in barbering. Her first job was in 1957 in Albemarle. After 6 months she then came to Wadesboro to cut hair. Then in 1959 she found a spot at Esquire Barbershop in Monroe. She became a master barber being one of the first female barbers in the community which was a heavily male dominated field. Her words were “I was brave enough to try it”. In 1963, she moved to the Winchester neighborhood, gaining word of mouth popularity, the men were pleased with her barbering services. In 1977 she took a different path and went to Charlotte to teach her craft; it didn’t last. Everybody missed her. This time she returned as owner of Blonnie's Barber Shop. It was in fact a long-time customer that was the sponsor of her grand retirement party.

Being the believer she was she never let her job interfere with her love of God. She joined Saron Missionary Baptist Church at an early age. After leaving home she became a devoted member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Monroe. There she served on the usher board and in the choir.

Life then took her to Mayfield Memorial Baptist Church for a short stent before settling at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church under the grand leadership of Rev. W. W. Williams where she rallied to become active with all organizations she could. With her husband Harrison becoming deacon she naturally became deaconess. She became President of that organization and regularly enjoyed the Ministers & Deacons Wives and Widows auxiliary. She served as President for this as well. She was also president of the missionary board, choir member and Sunday school teacher. Blonnie tirelessly worked with the soup kitchen feeding the community's homeless along with working the coat and parking lot ministry. She was a Zion delegate as well with the State General Baptist Convention. She recently received an honor for 40+ years of Service to the Women’s Baptist Home and Foreign Missionary Auxiliary for the same organization.

Never forgetting her start, she would always return to Saron on occasion for fellowship.

If she could leave us with a quote, it would be “Listening is just as important as talking”. Those words will be cherished by her dearest Harrison of 44 years of the home; Her stepchildren Doris and Pierre Livingston of Buffalo, NY; one sister, Cynthia of Polkton; 2 brothers, Nathel of Wingate and Cecil (Bonnie) of Monroe; one sister-in-law, Edith of Kannapolis; 3 grandchildren, Lamont (Kim) of Monroe and London (Kia) of Concord; Marcus of Buffalo, NY; one God-daughter, Della Scales Gill (Shelton) of Canton, GA; 4 great-grandchildren; 3 God-Grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, cousins, neighbors and FRIENDS!

She had 2 brothers, Walter (Walt) and Robert (Bobby), a stepdaughter, Marilyn and a step-grandson Michael who proceeded her in death.

A Special thank you is extended to her sisters in love, Shirley Hailey and Linda Parker and her nieces and great nieces who were at her beck and call. We would also like to thank the nurses and staff of Atrium @ Home, Hospice Palliative Care, Grace Senior Center and Levine Cancer Center for the care given during her final tenure here.

The Homegoing Services will be on Friday, August 2, 2024, 1:00pm, Smith’s Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow at Westview Memorial Park, Polkton, North Carolina.

The Livingston and Hailey families will greet family and friends on Friday, August 2, 2024 from 12:30-1:00pm and at all other times at the family residence.

The public viewing for Mrs. Livingston will be on Thursday, August 1, 2024 from 3:00-6:00pm, Smith's Funeral Home, Wadesboro, North Carolina.