At the age of 101, Callie Terrell is still far from retiring from her work as a hairstylist, making her the oldest working beautician in Tennessee and perhaps the country.
“Well, I can’t describe it. I’m thankful I’m physically able to do some of the things I used to do,” she told WREG. “I guess it’s not a lot of 101-year-old people in Memphis still working because they say, ‘Still working?’ Well, I’m still alive.”
Last year, when she celebrated her 100th birthday, she said that she was ready to retire. But with the way things are going now, her retirement is currently not an option.
“Well if you don’t use it, you lose it, and people want me to work on them, and they pay me, so why not do it?” she said.
She also credits her long life to being able to love the work she does, so she didn’t want to stop. She said, “I guess my secret is just working and keeping busy because that’s what I’ve done. I had a very successful business, and what I do, I enjoy doing.”
Moreover, she also hopes to inspire younger people.
“Just do the right thing. What I mean is that you may be a church person. Do you believe in the Bible? Just live it,” she said. “Love people. Regardless of who they are, if they don’t love you in return, it doesn’t matter.”
