The Story Behind Our Name
Reflecting on our namesake—a woman who was strong, who bucked trends, and who cared for everyone around her. This is the story of our grandmother, our namesake, Alene “Gigi” Partlow of Plantersville, Mississippi.
Behind Gigi’s home was a little salon that acted as the heartbeat of her town. She worked with precision and pride while always being flawlessly put together. Hair set. Makeup perfect. Not a curl out of place. She believed you could work hard and still show up beautiful, and she made it a point to live that way.
People came for haircuts, but what they truly sought was her presence. She listened like a friend, spoke like a mentor, and loved like family. Family folklore says she even did Elvis Presley’s mother’s hair (and nobody ever argued it). In that town, this was the kind of story that didn’t need proof.
Gigi was the first woman in town to wear pants. She walked down Main Street like she owned it because she believed a woman could be strong, stylish, and unafraid. Rather than asking for permission, she simply opened the door, letting other women follow her through it.
But beyond the hairspray and hard work, she had a gift: she fed people’s spirits and their stomachs. Food was always on the table. Candy always filled the jars. She would give you the sweater off her back, even if she was cold. Kindness wasn’t something she practiced. It was simply who she was.
Gigi was a salon owner, a trendsetter, a working woman, a caretaker, and a quiet celebrity. But above all, she was this: our grandmother.