Meet Robbie Fields! He has grown up and worked in Jefferson almost all of his life. Robbie was born in Atlanta and his family moved to Jefferson when he was one. They lived in the Brockton Community. He grew up in Bethany United Methodist Church and directed the choir there for several years. Robbie met and married Deneen, and they have two children and two soon-to-be grandchildren.
“I have known Robbie for many years. He is one of the most artistically, creative people I have ever met. His creative abilities run through many areas of his life, through a variety of expressional modes, and out into our community,” John Canupp said.
We want to thank Robbie for sitting down and telling us more about himself and his love of our community.
Question: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
Answer: “I have been married to my wife, Deneen for 27 years. We have two kids, Jake (24) and Reuben (18). Jake lives in Texas with his wife, Lizzy. They have one daughter, Juni (1), and another daughter, Poppy on the way in October. Reuben is a senior at Jefferson High School.”
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
A: “Deneen and I started the Sassafras Salon approximately 18 years ago here in Jefferson. At the salon, I cut and styled hair but also arranged flowers for events (weddings, etc.). I sold the salon and got out of the hair business. Now, I have opened Castle DeLeroy (means Castle of the King). Castle DeLeroy gives people in our community a unique retail experience. I also offer classes there to encourage and stimulate people’s creativity. People always say they do not have a creative bone in their body, but I beg to differ. People can call and make appointments for a creative class to come and learn a different skill, build things, and dig a little deeper (e.g. paint a picture, learn to make a flower out of abstract materials, etc.). I am also trying to reach out to other creative people to pull from a variety of resources to build a creative community. I feel like this is my mission.”
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
A: “El Huasteco across from Jackson County High School.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
A: “I have lived and worked in Jefferson for 48 years.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
A: “Posy Henson. For years people would tell me I needed to meet her, but I never did until I ran into her two or three years ago at an event. Right away we were kindred spirits. She makes me think of my grandmother. She is sweet and a friend I can drink coffee with. She is also a master gardener. We often have had biscuits and coffee in her garden.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
A: “Outside of Lubbock, Texas. That’s where my kids and grandbabies are. I would actually like to have my feet there but also have my feet here in Jefferson where my business is growing.”
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
A: “Movie would be ‘Secretariat.’ I felt like that was a God moment in that horse in a situation that defied the odds. I feel like in my life I want to do that. I want to defy the odds. I can’t watch it without crying. TV Show would be ‘Downton Abby.’ I love to see how life was, it’s formal even to a point that is almost ridiculous, everyone sat down at the table to eat dinner together, and so opposite from where we are today.”
Q: What advice would you give to people?
A: “To dream and not give up on your dreams. I feel like this is part of why I do what I do (Castle DeLeroy). This is a journey to my dreams, and I do not know any other way to go about it. I wish I would have done it sooner, but that was not an option.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “I want to travel and build communities in other places. The world is too big to live out of this right here (Jefferson). I always want Jefferson to be my home base, but I want to experience, effect, and build communities in other places that I go.”
Q: What is your go-to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
A: “Bethel Music. We have listened to Bethel and its ministries through the years. This is one of the reasons why Jake went to school at Bethel. It was an influence on him spiritually.”
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
A: “The old dime store where Revival Hall is now. I remember they had a big, black bird named JoJo in a cage. He would always say ‘hello’ and ‘pretty bird.’ I was enamored by him as a kid. I can’t remember exactly what they sold, but I feel like it was a mercantile-like store, and I wish we had one here today.”
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
A: “Fraser Downs. He is our Scottish exchange son. When Jake was in high school, he got to go to Scotland and stay two weeks at Fraser’s house, and then Fraser came and stayed two weeks at our house. We fell in love with Fraser. He is an artist… so he was in the right home, and we really hit it off. Our family just loves him. It would be to Scotland or have him here with us for lunch.”
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
A: “I hope that one day it is my store. I feel like our community needs to color outside of the lines, to have things that are a little more whimsical, and be more creative. I want to do my part in our community by making this happen at Castle DeLeroy through creativity, encouragement, collaboration, and a collective community.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
A: “All over the place with family. Creating and influencing others. I don’t know if it is through this creative realm, but I feel like the Lord may give me a platform for this. He gave me the saying I have written up on the wall (What’s life without inspiration?). This may be a direction that God takes me and my family. I started to develop a business for my family, although they are not really involved in it right now. I see multiple products coming out of me and establishing a business for my family. I see ourselves all over the place through business and mission work.”
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
A: “The Grand Canyon. It’s breathtaking.”
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
A: “Month: Any month in Fall or Winter. Holiday: Christmas, because it’s cold. I love to see when people are cozy. I love seeing people drinking coffee and hot chocolate, sitting around the fire, and enjoying nature. Calendar day: I don’t have a favorite. I’m grateful for every day.”
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
A: “My relationship with my wife.”
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
A: “My Old Me.”
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
A: “Valve oil in the trumpet and tuba (grew to like the smell growing up with instruments in the band) and Strong Coffee.”
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: “Home is where the heart is. Home is your family. I want home to be comfortable, but I also want home to feel like a vacation place, a place of rest, a place where my family will come and feel like they are home and have peace. I am a striver and want to be constantly building life, wholeness, love, joy, strength, and peace. A place where everybody can feel included.”
