George H. Reaves was the tenth of eleven children born to Robert Roscoe and Virginia (“Virgie”) Reaves. He was born on January 24, 1935, in Goldston, North Carolina.
Growing up in the South, he tended to the family farm while caring for cattle, driving his tractor, and working in the tobacco fields. He graduated from the Goldston Colored High School that taught grades 1 through 12. At 16 years old, George mustered the courage to ask Clara Jean Alston on a date. A relationship blossomed and six years later, on June 9, 1956, in Gulf, North Carolina, they had a simple but elegant nuptial ceremony in Clara’s mother’s home.
After attending Goldston CHS, Mr. Reaves went to the Bull City Barber Academy in Durham, North Carolina, where he received his license. Mr. and Mrs. Reaves then migrated North to New Haven, Connecticut, where he began working at Paul Worthy’s Barbershop.
While working there, Mr. Reaves decided to become an entrepreneur. Ultimately, he became the sole proprietor of Reaves Barber Shop on Dixwell Avenue, where the shop operated for 46 years.
Mr. Reaves woke up at 6 a.m. every morning; doors opened promptly at 8 a.m. and they were religiously closed on Wednesdays and Sundays. His two sons, Marcus and Michael, worked alongside him for years, strengthening the family business. The Reaves Barber Shop became a legend in the New Haven community as one of the leading Black establishments in New Haven.
Mr. Reaves was a dignified man who always gave respect and demanded it in his shop. He was famously known for his jokes, storytelling, and saying, “take a number, brother,” in his deep Southern accent. Reaves Barber Shop went against the grain; it was more than a place to get the cleanest haircut. It was a refuge, especially for Black men, from judges to the homeless. Mr. Reaves was famous for maintaining a higher caliber of barber shop etiquette — no profanity, and everyone was welcome. Mr. Reaves spent 61 years cutting hair with precision and detail, and was a devoted teacher, social worker, mentor, life coach, and friend, retiring on May 2, 2015.
Over his lifetime, Mr. Reaves supported and encouraged other young barbers to learn the trade and get their licenses. Mr. Reaves is the founder and past president of the Connecticut Black Barber’s Union and a lifetime member of the N.A.A.C.P. Mr. Reaves was also inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Greater New Haven Business and Professional Association. Nonetheless, Mr. Reaves understood that his accomplishments were the manifestation of his faith, dedication, and commitment to God. In 1991, Mr. Reaves was ordained as a Deacon of the First Baptist Church of Milford, CT, where he was a devoted member for over 40 years. Although his family, church, and shop kept him busy, he loved spending his leisure time traveling around the world with his love, fishing with his sons, watching the Cowboys, and Mets, and UCONN Huskies, and keeping up with his garden of assorted fruits and vegetables. How could we forget the planet-sized watermelons growing into the walkway?
On January 25, 2023, Mr. Reaves passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family. Mr. Reaves was a devoted husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was predeceased by his second eldest son, Michael Howard; and siblings, Lorenzo, Ralph, Mary, Robert, Walter, Irvin, Thomas, Roscoe, Jr., Harriet, and Virginia. Mr. Reaves and his rock, Clara J., of 66 years, have been blessed with four children,: Marcus A., Michael H., Ronnie L. (Theresa), and Cynthia C. Watts (Bishop Benjamin K. Watts). They are also the proud grandparents of eleven grandchildren, Nerissa, Maurice (Carissa), Alanda, Quentin, Benjamin, Samantha, Brittany, Miles, William (Ebony), Christina, and Benjamin, Jr.; great-grandchildren, Quentin, Jr., Lauryn, Tyla, Dante, Malachi, Dante, and Milana; and a host of nieces, nephews, and godchildren. In addition to his family, Mr. George Howard Reaves leaves to cherish in his memory, generations of loyal customers, friends, and community members. Psalms 37:37 (KJV) says, “Mark the perfect man and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.” May he rest in everlasting peace.