Gardner celebrated for 38-year career as hair stylist
Terry Gardner, longtime owner of Rehoboth Beach Yoga, was celebrated at a spectacular tribute to close out her 38-year run as a hair stylist. Drexel Davison, owner of Rehoboth Beach’s Bad Hair Day, paid tribute to Gardner’s 28 years working at his popular salon with a cocktail reception and dinner party May 1 at Salt Air in Rehoboth Beach. Davison asked the invitees to not only keep the soirée a surprise from the guest of honor, but also to wear white.
The evening was a sea of 50 shades of white in tribute to Gardner’s usual white garb, signifying her deep yogic roots. Coincidentally, her trademark white clothing now also represents her iconic status in the area’s yoga community.
Gardner has deep roots in the community. She was born in Rehoboth Beach, raised on Maryland Avenue and educated locally. Before joining Bad Hair Day, she spent 10 years in the beauty business. She owned a salon on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, then managed a Rehoboth salon after having been the first person to be nationally licensed as an esthetician. Davison met Gardner and her husband Doug at Ground Zero Restaurant, where Salt Air is today. He was a waiter serving them on their 11th anniversary. Davison was on the verge of opening his salon. That evening he tuned in to her experience and expertise, resulting in Gardner becoming a quiet powerhouse for 28 years at Bad Hair Day.
May has seen Terry Gardner hitting the trifecta: wrapping up her 28 years at Bad Hair Day, 40th wedding anniversary with husband Doug, and celebrating her 70th birthday. All worthy of a spectacular launch party with a “Who’s Who” of Rehoboth, old and new. Guests included Bad Hair Day staff members, clients and former clients, yoga students past and present, notable community citizens, childhood friends and legions of family. The wide array of attendees caused Gardner to comment that the evening felt like a version of “This is Your Life!” Davison gave a heartfelt tribute to Gardner’s years of service, laced with amusing anecdotes as well as a litany of spiritual lessons Gardner imparted or simply modeled over her many years at Bad Hair Day. The champagne flowed, the groaning board groaned, the spirits were merry; all in all a wonderful launch into Chapter III for Terry Gardner, ongoing captain at the helm of Rehoboth Beach Yoga.
