by Isaac Smith
After high school, David “Purp” Lavender took a chance on barber school and has been cutting hair ever since.
After a period in the Army, including a tour in Vietnam, Lavender came back to work at Gibbs Barbershop, one of 18
barbershops in Murphysboro at the time. Now, Lavender said, Gibbs is the only barbershop in town and has served several generations of Murphysboro families. Along with a quality haircut, Lavender said the people who come into Gibbs are as much friends as they are customers.
