Louis Byrd Jr
Lou, Louis, Big Lou, Big Lupa…And yes …Even the Windy City Gold man… Louis Byrd Jr. was so many things to so many people. For those that need the stats: he was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a grand and great grandfather, a friend, businessman, an entrepreneur, a showman, a community leader and a mentor. Most of all, Louis Byrd Jr. was loved and well respected.
He was baptized at a young age at New Zion Baptist Church in Nacogdoches, TX where he was born and overcame the Jim Crow South before moving to Chicago as a teenager. Louis graduated from DuSable high school having played drums in their illustrious marching band. He then joined the Navy where he played drums and Jimbe’ in their marching band. At his going away party he met a beautiful young lady who he became friends with. Yep you guessed it… it was Shirley Howard. After returning from the service (4 years, 27 days and 11 hours later) Louis took Shirley on their 1st date, a Thanksgiving dance at the Trianon Theater. They married (May 20,1956) and together they had three kids Louis III (Angela), Steven the only (Vanessa) and Judy the baby (Nelson Duckett).
As a young man Louis drove a cab, ran the numbers (not sure if I’m supposed to tell that part… well okay) ALLEGEDLY and attended barber college which changed the course of his life. Through barbering Louis eventually opened his own barbershop. In an effort to expand his clientele he developed a skillful hand with women’s hair. He helped change the laws in Chicago allowing barbershops to be coed with beauty salons. Over the years Lou’s Barber Salon was a staple in the South Shore community serving little boys who grew into fathers who then brought their sons and daughters to Lou’s.
Always well dressed and fashion forward, Lou Byrd made custom cowboy boots and western hats the Standard and they were often accompanied by one of his fabulous fur, leather or tailored coats. Lou became an ambassador for Magnificent Products out of California and was popular at hair shows and conventions nationally…know for his signature “Super Fro”. Very active as a board member of both the South Shore and Chicago Chambers of Commerce, Lou was well known in the business community. Lou’s Barber Salon has been featured in various news articles and finally on an episode of the popular television show EMPIRE in which he was also an extra. It was a memorable ending to 50 years of business marking the closing of Lou’s Barber Salon and his retirement.
Louis Byrd jr. was an avid sports fan. He especially enjoyed NFL football and NBA basketball. In the early days there were stories of Lou Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabar), then Jordan, Bird and Magic…but in his retirement years you BET NOT talk trash about his LeBron James! He loved LeBron James and could list all the reasons both on and off the court why you should love him too. Dad, Daddy, Pop, Grandpa, Pawpaw, Grandpa Cowboy… These names put the light in his eyes. Lou was most proud of his family… his loving wife Shirley, their 3 kids, grandkids Erica (Anthony Walls), Alexandria Simone, Joshua, Kristen, newest addition Malachi and great grandkids Ava, Ebony, AJ and Wesley. Whether having Chinese food, sharing a slice of pie (French silk of course), making his special breakfast chops or even whooping any of us in a game of dominoes he was funny, smart and opinionated. He made sure we all could hold her own in a discussion.
Louis jr., the 2nd of 5 children has joined his big sister ( Lucille) and younger brother (Fredrick) at the age of 93 in eternity. He has left his baby brother (Luncell) and baby sister (Texana) to carry on along with the entire family, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and all who were impacted by his amazing life.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/obituaries/2024/10/18/lou-byrd-dead-south-side-barber-chicago-neighborhood-icon-was-93-obituary