VALDOSTA — It’s impossible to talk about Joy Morrison without talking about her faith in God.

It’s a faith that informs and influences all aspects of her life, even her recent business decision to move her salon, Hair Paradise, from its longtime home at 926 N. Oak St. to 111 E. Hill Ave. and to rechristen it H.P. Salon

An elderly woman, Jeanie, walked into Morrison’s salon.

The moment struck Morrison, in part because of its similarity to a moment from seven years ago.

She had been at church when her pastor walked up to her out of the blue and told her she was going to move her business around the corner.

When the woman walked through the door, Morrison said she had been thinking about moving away from Valdosta. Her youngest daughter was about to finish high school and Morrison was thinking about going into teaching.

But Morrison still faced the cost of moving, of setting up shop in a new place.

She also faced discouragement, people telling her that her business wouldn’t succeed. Sometimes they told her nicely, sometimes not.

One person told her that as a black businesswoman, she’d never succeed in Downtown Valdosta.

“I felt a bit like Peter when Christ tells him to walk on water,” said Morrison.

But it’s not the first time Morrison has faced discouragement, a Greek chorus of you-cant’s and you-won’ts when she’s set out to do something.

It’s the same thing that happened decades ago when she started taking classes, learning how to cut and style.

Now, as then, she had the support of her mother, Barbara Lintner, and her grandmother, Lillie Austin.

She also had the support of two local businesswomen, Rosetta Carington and Laverne McHellen.

Together, the four women encouraged her.

“They are who I had when I had no one,” said Morrison.

She kept praying and she kept getting the same answer.

And bit by bit, things started to come together.

A Washington resident on her way to Florida who stopped in for a haircut bought her a sofa for the new place.

Longtime customers dropped in and offered to help.

And then there’s the spot she found on the first floor of the Daniel Ashley House, the same place where Jeanie lives.

After a fresh paint job, some decorating and installing extra outlets and shampooing sinks, Morrison opened H.P. Salon on Oct. 8, offering hair cuts, coloring, deep conditioning, chemical treatments and relaxers.

Her regular customers have stuck with her and new customers have found her.

She’d like to see the business grow into a full-service salon, offering manicures, pedicures and massages and she’s thought about teaching a class on the business and professional side of the hair business.

That’s in the future.

She’ll see what happens.

She’s been praying about it.

H.P. Salon is located at 111 E. Hill Ave.

The business is open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 8 a.m. until noon Saturday.

More information: Call (229) 671-1100.

Instagram: joyful1styles

Facebook: Joy Certified Joyologist Morrison

Stuart Taylor is a reporter for the Valdosta Daily Times.