When Jeff Jaynes graduated from Italy High School in the late 50s, he moved away to pursue greener pastures. He would visit his friends and family here in Italy from time to time, but had no intentions of ever coming home to stay. After all, he liked living in a large city. He owned his own barber shop with a very established client list in Nassau Bay. Life was good in every respect. Then the unthinkable happened. Hurricane Ike hit the Texas coast and destroyed his home and everything in it.

“It was a shock to realize I did not have a home to return to,” said Jaynes. “My shop was untouched, but I lost everything else. I had to make a very hard decision whether to move elsewhere or stay and rebuild. I decided to return to Italy and open up shop here.”

So, Jeff salvaged what he could and moved here with his two dogs’ Maggie the red healer and Zena “Warrior Princess,” his 6# dachshund.

“I love my kids and grandkids so it has been really nice being closer. The grandkids and I love to watch Disney movies together.”

Jeff has been a barber for 45 years and loves his job. He spent his growing up years in Italy with his father, H.V, a local butcher; his mother, Mirtis, a nurse and his brother Henry, who followed in his footsteps and was a barber too. Jeff has three sons, Coleman, Phillip and Carl. His grandchildren are the loves of his life. Spending time with them has made relocation worth it.

Seeing the barber pole on Main Street has brought back fond memories of times past for several local residents. Dub Commons’s barber shop was located on Main Street and was complete with barber pole also. Some men that have been driving to Waxahachie to get haircuts are glad Jeff’s shop is open.

When you enter Jeff’s Barber Shop, it is more like entering a space museum of who’s who than a barber shop. Autographed color pictures of astronauts line the walls. Jeff’s shop in Nassau Bay was located across the street from the Johnson Space Center so the astronauts found it convenient for haircuts.

“I have several things in frames like scissors and brushes that have gone into space,” Jeff stated. “I have several more boxes of photos that I have not even unpacked due to lack of wall space."

Being back home has been an adjustment for Jeff. His shop on the coast was very busy. The one on Main Street hasn’t gotten busy yet. He hopes word will spread that he is open for business. Jeff’s is located at 143 W. Main in Italy and is open Tuesday – Friday from 9:00 – 6:00 and Saturday from 9:00 – 2:00. Haircuts cost $10.00. Stop in anytime for a haircut and sit a spell. Jeff likes to visit with old and new friends. He is living proof that you can go home again.