Sherry Jaquess

Sherry Jaquess has a long record of business and philanthropic excellence. She has worked hard over the years to build successful businesses such as the Triad Ad Valorem Group, a commercial real estate appraisal company, and her current endeavor – the Renata Salon & Day Spa in Grapevine. Nestled in the historic Victorian-style Dorris House, the salon offers hair and skin care services, as well as massage therapy, and a unique complimentary service for clients undergoing breast cancer therapy treatments. Since its opening nine years ago, the Renata has received recognition on several fronts. The Sophisticates’ Hair Style Guide named it “No. 1 salon in the state of Texas” and Color and Style Magazine ranked it among the top 30 hottest salons across the United States.  

But perhaps the most impressive of Jaquess’ accomplishments is her philanthropic work. Eleven years ago her life changed completely when she became acquainted with a family of five in Uganda. The father, William, was attending her church in Grapevine when she learned about his wife and three children, who were still in Africa and in desperate need of food and support. Jaquess and her daughter became so involved with William’s story that they decided to spend close to a month with his family in an impoverished village in southern Uganda.

“We cried a lot about what we saw. It was really poor. It was what you see on TV, but it’s more difficult to see it in person. It was a life-changing moment for both me and my daughter. We both learned that people love their families just like we love our families, and that death is the same wherever you are,” says Jaquess, teary-eyed. After years of working with a lawyer, in September Jaquess was able to bring William’s wife and his three children to Grapevine, where they now live self-sufficiently.

– Ani Jarrett