The shrill ring of the telephone rises above the gospel music playing on the radio.

Mary Stover walks across the black floor, her reflection appearing and disappearing as she passes the mirrors on the walls.

“Sister Mary,” Stover answers.

She stands alone in the three-room Praise Jesus Salon where she works as cleaning lady, hairstylist, accountant, receptionist, advertising manager and

co-owner.

“Jesus is my co-owner,” she said. “He’s been my CEO and my boss. I may be self-employed, but I’m not self-sufficient.”

Two stylist chairs sit in one room sparsely decorated with models’ photographs. Sinks and dryers line the walls of the back room. In the foyer, a light blue couch with worn cushions sits against a backdrop of white walls and black floors.

“We all have our dreams,” Stover said, wiping the faded couch cushion. “I dream of having a really posh salon committed to the Lord. I will get there in time, but it will be God’s time.”

Tucked a block south of the bustling Sixth Avenue Southeast in a brick building on 11th Street in Decatur, the salon offers nail, hair and skin care, prayer and Lord Make Me Over services.

The prayer, Stover said, is free of charge.

“Now, I’m not going to force my religion on anybody, but we do have some prayer up in here,” she said. “My goal is for this to be a relaxing place. I pray that when people leave they are not as weary as when they come in.”

According to Tara Covington, Stover has already achieved that goal.

“When I walk in, I know I’m going to be in a godly place,” Covington said. “She has been blessed by God and gives that to others.

“If I’m having a bad day and frowning when I get there, I’m smiling when I leave.”

A client of 15 years, Covington admitted following Stover from salon to salon because of her faith.

“I love that she loves the Lord. It also helps that she’s an excellent hairdresser,” Covington added, laughing.

Karen Stewart, a client of Stover’s for two years, agreed.

“When I first started going, my hair was not in good shape,” Stewart said. “Now I’ve got a head full of healthy hair. Praise Jesus for that.”

Praise Jesus conflicts with the portrayal of salons seen in films such as “Steel Magnolias,” “Barbershop” and “Beauty Shop.”

“I go in, get to listen to soothing music,” Stewart said. “If I got anything to talk about, she will give me an inspiring word. And I don’t have to listen to women gossiping. It’s not that type of place.”

Growing up in what Stover called “the projects” with her grandmother, she never dreamed of becoming a hairdresser or business owner.

“It has been a long journey with many ups and downs but God has seen me through,” she said.

During the journey, Stover played many roles and held many titles. As a child, she styled her sisters’ hair and attended church every Sunday with her aunt. At 15, she became a teenage mother. At 18, the Decatur High graduate started working as a hairdresser. At 25, she led worship as a minister, at times working with Emmanuel Church International.

At 33, after getting a divorce, she moved to Nashville, where she was temporarily homeless, living in her car. At 36, she became a grandmother. Three years ago, she opened Praise Jesus Salon on Alabama 20. After a year, she moved the business to Fifth Avenue and 11th Street.

With each failure and success, Stover said she became stronger and smarter.

“You’re not going to do everything on point,” she said. “It’s OK to fall as long as you learn from it and get back on track.

“I’ve come from a teenage mother to owning a salon,” the 40-year-old mother of three and grandmother of two said. “It’s just like that poem ‘Footprints.’ He was carrying me. He did it.

“He is worthy to be praised. I’ve truly been blessed.”

Now, she wants to bless and encourage others by organizing hair shows to showcase the talents of the young people who style hair in their apartments and on their front porches.

By recognizing their abilities, Stover hopes to help women establish and support themselves.

“God calls us to be an impact wherever we are,” she said. “And I am here. What the world needs and city needs is love. I strive to pick up everybody who comes in my path and help build self-esteem.”

Stover also plans to start a Bible study and prayer group on Thursday nights.

“People always ask, ‘Why did you name your salon Praise Jesus?’ First of all, because he died for us. If he died for me, he gets everything I have,” she said. “If anybody’s got to praise him, it has got to be me.”

Catherine Godbey can be reached at

cgodbey@DecaturDaily.com.