Allendale County mourns Selena Tomlin, longtime cosmetology teacher, salon owner
Selena Tomlin built a local legacy from her salon to Allendale County Vocational School, where she taught cosmetology for years and helped shape careers in a county of 8,039.
Selena S. Tomlin, who built a career from her own beauty salon into years of teaching cosmetology at Allendale County Vocational School, died at home May 18 after an extended illness. She was 81 and spent much of her life in Fairfax and the Allendale area, where her work connected the classroom, the salon chair and the county’s small-business economy.
Born in Fairfax, Tomlin was the daughter of the late M.G. Smith Jr. and Mary Ellen Harter and graduated from Allendale-Fairfax High School. In a county with 8,039 residents and a town of about 1,935, that kind of local continuity carries unusual weight. Allendale County was formed in 1919 from Barnwell and Hampton counties, and Tomlin’s path reflected the way rural communities depend on people who stay close to home, build businesses and then pass practical skills to the next generation. Cosmetology remains part of the Allendale County School District’s career-and-technical education structure, which shows how the field she taught still fits into the county’s workforce pipeline.
Tomlin is survived by her husband, Freddie Massey; daughters Tracy K. Palm and Shaneki T. Cauble; and stepchildren Ted Tomlin, Clinch Massey, Gatlin Massey and Betsy Malon. She also leaves 12 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son, Luke Kinard, and former husband Billy E. Tomlin. Her family ties, spread across Fairfax and the wider county, underline how deeply rooted her life was in the same community she served.
Graveside services were set for 2 p.m. Friday, May 22, 2026, at Fairfax Cemetery, with Pastor CJ Cauble officiating. The family was to receive friends after the service at the graveside, and Keith Smith Funeral Service of Allendale was assisting. For Allendale County, Tomlin’s name will stay tied to both a local salon and the vocational classroom where she helped turn a trade into a livelihood.
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