E. F. Young Hotel in Meridian. It was an important resource for black travelers in the years of segregation and provided good lodging. In 2007, the Young Hotel was listed as a contributing property to the Meridian Downtown Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[4]
Early years
Eugene Fred Young Jr. was born in 1898 in Russell, Mississippi, the son of E. F. Young Sr., a Methodist minister, farmer, and administrator,[5] and his wife Maggie.[1][6]
In 1927, after graduating from the
Jim Crow South, opportunities were few and far between. While in school, he worked part-time as a barber
, which was a good service career at the time. Barbers had connections in the upper classes of both the white and black communities, as men used their services extensively before razors and electric shavers were widely available. Upon graduation, Young began working full-time as a barber to support his new wife, Velma, and growing family.
Family
E. F. Young married Velma Beal in 1927. They had three children:
Loyce Young [Daniels-De Augustino-Todd] (April 3, 1928 – November 9, 1994)[7]
As a barber, Young realized that his African-American clients needed hair care products designed for them. As the demand for these products grew, he decided to start a company to manufacture them on a larger scale. In 1931, he established the E. F. Young Jr. Manufacturing Company.[5] In 1933, his company received its trademark. By 1945, it had grown to one of the most successful black-owned businesses in the South.[5]