1st coronavirus death in MS was ‘Fade,’ a Bay St. Louis barber who inspired his clients
His friends and clients called him “Fade,” because the man could give a great haircut.
Howard Pickens, a 63-year-old man from Waveland who owned a barber shop in Bay St. Louis, died in Slidell, Louisiana, earlier this week from complications with the new coronavirus, according to a report from The Advocate | The Times-Picayune.
Pickens was the first Mississippi resident to die from COVID-19.
Waveland Mayor Mike Smith said Pickens owned Fade 1 Barber Shop in Bay St. Louis. It was in the shopping center near King Wah restaurant and Froogel’s.
“He was a good barber from what I understand,” Smith told the Sun Herald.
Pickens’ Facebook page is filled with notes from clients and friends as well as before-and-after men’s haircut photos from February.
A Facebook post made from his account on March 14 said that he had been hospitalized because of his COPD and was “critical but stable.” He died five days later.
The Advocate reported that Pickens had a medical condition “that made him more susceptible to the virus’ ‘more drastic effects.’ “
Pickens inspired his clients to be best the version of themselves, according to Facebook posts. He loved the San Francisco 49ers and, like his nickname suggests, giving fade haircuts, which is side buzz cut that blends into the hair on top of the head.
Smith said he is trying to find Pickens’ family to see if the city can help them in any way.
There have been 80 reported COVID-19 cases in Mississippi as of Friday morning. Pickens’ death has been the only fatal case so far.
This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 2:16 PM.
