By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

Beth Davis was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., but spent most of her life in Longview, Texas.

After graduation from Longview High School she attended Tyler Junior College to become a dental hygienist.

She worked in that field for 18 years and was a stay-at-home mom when her children were growing up.

Her husband, Steve Davis (a pharmaceutical salesman) and the family lived in Texas until 1993.

They actually took six hours to get here from Tuscaloosa as the “blizzard of ’93″ was happening all around them as they traveled to Alabaster from Longview, Texas.  Married for 26 years, Beth has two children. Son Peyton, age 22, is a senior at Auburn University studying industrial design and daughter Lauren, age 24, is a nurse at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the ICU Trauma and Burn Unit. She is also studying to be a nurse practitioner.

At the age of 55, anticipating college for her kids and an empty nest at home, Davis decided to go to cosmetology school.

She opened Hairway to Heaven four years ago after working at another salon for one year.

“It’s a bit of a challenge to be the owner and a hair stylist,” Davis says. “There are four of us here right now that have been here since we opened in 2012.”

Employees Tori Chance, Jim Rice, Jessie Hoover and, of course, Beth Davis put their skills to work Tuesday through Saturday.

“We are like family. The Lord truly brought us together,” Davis says.

Hairway to Heaven offers shampoo, cut, style, perms, high and low lighting, brow waxing, boliage and prom and wedding specialties.

Davis runs an attractive shop with a Christian atmosphere.

Davis says she is not a good empty-nester and hopes to travel some after retirement.  Davis has traveled to Canada and someday hopes to go to Alaska and Israel.

Davis and her husband attend First Baptist Church of Pelham where he teaches Sunday school.

Davis gives credit to the Lord for “getting them through it all.”

“We absolutely love it here,” she said.