DANVILLE, Va. — From age 5 to age 20, Edward “Ed” Hairston lived through the Civil Rights Movement in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Now a small business owner on Riverside Drive, Hairston reflects on a life of entrepreneurship and forestalling prejudice in the hopes of accomplishing one immutable goal: to better the lives of those around him.
Hairston was born Nov. 21, 1948, as the seventh child of eight to the late C.P. and Mary L. Hairston. The spark of entrepreneurship was ignited during his early days in Pittsylvania County Schools, when Hairston would ride the bread truck to school—buying bread for a nickel and reselling it for a dime.
This spark grew into a lifetime of accomplishment, including the title of first African-American tobacco buyer from Southern Virginia, awarded to him by the Fayette Area Historical Initiative in Volume Two of its book, African-American Firsts of Martinsville, Henry County and the Surrounding Area.
Hairston joined Philip Morris Tobacco Company, the makers of Marlboro, at a relatively tender age, but with a career already under his belt—an Agricultural Education degree from Virginia State University, a notable HBCU; two years of active duty in the U.S. Army as Second Lieutenant and a supervisor position at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in Danville.
When Hairston arrived to Philip Morris in Richmond, he was selected to become a leaf buyer and did extensive travel to tobacco-growing areas of the U.S as well as Italy, Canada, Turkey, Greece, Switzerland and Venezuela. At this time, Hairston had already acknowledged the unique experience that was being a Black professional in the 20th-century South.
“When I worked with Philip Morris in the 1970s, I ran into some prejudiced people,” Hairston recounted. “I was training, and in my interview, there was a racist comment made to me upon entering. It bothered me, but I took it with a grain of salt. I looked over it. That’s what I’ve had to do over the years.”
Hairston was featured in this locally-published history book as Southern Virginia’s first African-American tobacco leaf buyer.
Hairston said he looks to Martin Luther King Jr. for inspiration, deriving from King’s quote in saying, “I respect people for who they are, not the color of skin but content of character. I look for content of the character. If more people Black and White did that, we’d have a better world.”
Hairston attributes his success to the philosophy that personal responsibility, self-improvement and self-development are the keys to success, no matter the barriers at play. He pointed to his nephew, Dean Hairston, who is the first Black deputy chief of police in Danville.
“The way we [people of color] have been treated, the difference in pay, it’s unfair,” Hairston said. “Did anyone you know ask to be born or what color to be? When a person is held responsible for something they’re not responsible for… that’s a bad way to treat people.”
Since 1995, Hairston’s bread and butter has been his private insurance business, Hairston Insurance, located at 2321 Riverside Drive, Suite 10. Through this business, which he still operates day-in and day-out at 72 years old, he has learned more patience and compassion than he knew was possible, he said.
“An old customer from 12 years ago called me this morning,” Hairston said Wednesday afternoon. “She asked if I retired, and I said, ‘Retired form what?’ I enjoy working with people, helping people. If I can care for people, I can help those people to go on and serve others.”
Before founding Hairston Insurance a quarter-century ago, Hairston decided to help his brother C.G., who owned the Volvo and Fiat franchise in Danville, by starting in sales and eventually moving to general manager. Being a Black business owner in Southern Virginia is as difficult as you make it, Hairston said.
“The majority of my clients are White, but I have both,” Hairston said. “I have never had a problem with clients either way. I show respect to people and they generally respond to me.”
Hairston, who now lives in Cascade, said he hopes to impart notions of pacifism, peace, compassion and resilience to young people in the Danville-Pittsylvania County area.
“Take a green apple and a red apple and peel it. Underneath, it’s all the same color,” Hairston said. “We all bleed red blood. I’m a lifetime blood donor—I gave over 85 pints of blood, and I’ve got the award hanging in office to prove it. My blood went into some White and Black people, I’m sure. We should all work on our heart and character, that’s my thing.”
Outside of operating his business, Hairston still boasts the title of Second Vice Commander of American Legion Post 29 and has served on the Pittsylvania County School Board, Big Brothers Big Sisters Board, Deacon Board, as a Sunday school superintendent and countless other community service roles. He is also the chairman of the Southside High School Alumni Association.
Hairston credited his drive to influence and uplift young minds to an agriculture teacher of his at Southside High School in the mid-1960s, one of his biggest inspirations.
“He changed my schedule from general education to agriculture, and French, and algebra,” Hairston said. “He had confidence in me, which made me feel like I could do anything.”
When Hairston got to Virginia State, his grades improved every semester. A 2.3 GPA became a 4.0 senior year, when he was named president of his senior class.
Hairston is now celebrating 50 years of marriage to his college sweetheart, Vernetta, and they have two sons, Jerond and Jarrett, as well as three grandchildren. In his spare time, Hairston likes reading, bowling, chess, watching documentaries and of course, working with and encouraging young people.
Hairston works at his independent insurance company’s office on Riverside Drive, where he has been for 15 years.
