One of six stories filed or edited on August 24, 2011, for www.cascade.patch.com.

1. quot;
Atlanta's Oldestquot;
Black Barbershop Owner Celebrates 87 Years Thursday at Paschals<br /> Youthful and kind, George Axam has owned his shop on McDaniel Street since 1956. Friends, family and the Professional Black Barbers Association will celebrate his legacy Thursday evening. <br />By Janita Poe <br />August 24, 2011 <br />Top of Form<br />Bottom of Form<br /> <br />George Axam, owner of A&M Barbershop, 338 McDaniel St., since 1958. Credit Janita Poe <br />Photos (10) <br />Photos<br />Credit Janita Poe <br />Credit Janita Poe <br />Credit Janita Poe <br />Credit Janita Poe <br />Credit Janita Poe <br />Credit Janita Poe <br />CreditJanita Poe<br />CreditJanita Poe<br />CreditJanita Poe<br />CreditJanita Poe<br />The black church may be the power base of the African-American community; but it is the black barbershop where wisdom—often in the form of humor—is found.<br />For more than five decades, barbershop owner George Axam has been at the helm of the later in southwest Atlanta, as owner and chief master barber at A&M Barbershop, 338 McDaniel St.<br />On Thursday, customers from across the greater Cascade area and members of the Professional Black Barbers Association will salute quot;
Mr. Georgequot;
and celebrate his 87th birthday, which is Aug. 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Paschal's Restaurant, 180 Northside Dr.<br />At his shop on Wednesday, Axam said he was honored that his colleagues—four of whom he mentored and helped obtain licenses and, in one case, a building—wanted to fete him. But Axam, who works six days a week, starting promptly at 9 a.m. and ended at 8 p.m. or when the last head is done, says he just likes barbering.<br />quot;
I enjoy what I do,quot;
said Axam, who moved to Atlanta from Jeffersonville, Ga., in 1945 quot;
for a better life.quot;
<br />Axam, a Collier Heights resident, says he will retire eventually but, for now, he plans to keep the same hours.<br />quot;
As long as I feel like I can helps someone,quot;
Axam said, as he touched up the edges of Richard Alford, one of his regulars, quot;
I plan to keep working.quot;
<br />For an appointment with Mr. George or master barber Derrick Wise, call 404-525-9356. For more information about the Axam salute, contact Lance Robertson of Robertson Media Group, 404-454-8830.<br />