Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Cover Image by Heather Hamilton, additional images courtesy of Tiffany Trotter
Tiffany Trotter’s story started simply.
Coming from a family of hairdressers, she says she was destined to work with hair. “Both my grandmothers, my mom, my sisters-in-law, my sister, me, and now my own daughter – it’s just something we’ve always done.”
Tiffany attended Jasper Beauty Academy and started building her own clientele locally through jobs at Master Cuts, Warren Moore, and Smart Style. Over time, she transitioned to entrepreneurship, ultimately realizing her dream of owning a salon. In a bold move, Tiffany utilized her husband Mike’s Camaro savings to invest in her passion. Ever the supporter, Mike encouraged Tiffany to follow her dreams. In 2006, La Ti Da Salon proudly opened its doors, marking the fruition of Tiffany’s dedication and determination.
For 17 years, Tiffany’s chair at La Ti Da has been a place for her clients to sit, get a hair refresh, and talk about their lives, all under her skilled hands and listening ear.
“I knew I either wanted to be a psychologist or a hairdresser, and I feel like I got the best of both worlds,” Tiffany says. “I can be with others and talk to them because my clients are like family. I have witnessed their lives unfold – the good, the bad, and the ugly. And now that I have been through my own horrible experience, my empathy for them has only grown deeper.”
In November 2022, Tiffany’s husband Mike received a cancer diagnosis – glioblastoma, a rare cancer of the brain. Simultaneously, her lifelong best friend, Erica Duncan (known affectionately as “Ed”), was battling the same type of cancer. During this time, The Trotters and Erica relied heavily on their dear friend and hospice nurse, Holly Hamilton, who traveled the short distance between each home to care for Mike and Erica.
“Glioblastoma is a nasty one, and most people don’t know anything about it. Those who have it are like unicorns. So, for God to give us two unicorns not even a mile apart from each other, that’s wild. But it’s definitely not a coincidence,” says Tiffany.
Throughout this journey, Tiffany had confidence in the clinical trials, medications, and treatments that were lined up, but she also prayed that God would give her strength to endure the future, whether Mike and Erica were healed or not.
March 2023 began a stretch of several deaths that touched Tiffany’s life. Erica passed away on March 4, and Tiffany’s father died on March 17. Just a short six months later on September 4, 2023, Michael Trotter lost his battle with glioblastoma, leaving Tiffany without her rock and life partner.
In the wake of these losses, Tiffany’s greatest challenge remains staying happy without her husband, father, and best friend here with her. However, she fully believes that everything that has happened is part of God’s divine plan, and she has been endlessly encouraged by Exodus 14:14, “The Lord will fight for you. You only need to be still.”
“I’m used to wanting everything perfect and doing life 90-to-nothing trying to get there. So, while that’s what I’m used to, in this new chapter, still is all I can be,” Tiffany says. “I have never once prayed for patience because I knew better, but I did pray for strength and wisdom. And I’m getting it.”
Tiffany’s greatest desire as she navigates these challenges is that not only will she learn from them, but that others will also. She wishes to thank the Jasper community for supporting her family during this difficult time.
“We have an awesome community. It doesn’t matter if people get along or if they know you or not; they all come together to rally. People have supported me and my business. They have even supported me when I wasn’t present. My girls at La Ti Da stepped up, and so many others, I just want to thank everyone.”
She also expresses her gratitude for two milestone moments that occurred during the final months of her husband’s life – seeing Mike accept God’s salvation, and witnessing him be a loving grandfather to Blair Lynn Tedford, born on June 29, 2023.
Today, Tiffany Trotter’s story is rooted in pain, but it also reflects resilience, a life well-lived, and a testament to God’s faithfulness. In the face of her greatest trial, she has seen her community’s support, a business that continues to thrive, and God’s Hand evidently present in the life lived and the life yet to come. WL
