You should run for mayor. Ever thought about being on the county commission? You would make a great civil servant. All are sentiments expressed over the years to a local businessman, John Milton. However, he has realized he arguably affects more change with a pair of clippers in one and shears in the other. That’s because every subject, social and political issue known to man is discussed, debated, discounted, lauded, applauded, rejected, and resolved on any given day at Jay’s Place Barber and Beauty Shop, 1927 Olive Road in Augusta. He started cutting hair in 1994, two years after moving from Waycross to Garden City. He’s been helping solve the world’s ills ever since, including meeting the beauty needs of men, women, and children.
“The mission for my barber shop business is to provide top quality services to make clients look and feel good, and I know I can’t do that without my faith in God. Faith to me is knowing it’s going to happen before I can see it come to pass,” said Milton. “We offer a variety of hair care services, including designer haircuts, fades, bald heads, beard trims, relaxers, and braids. Our motto is simple ‘If we can’t cut it, it can’t be cut.’”
His customers will say the 51-year-old’s influence and impact goes beyond the final trim of their hairline. They have come to respect his community service and advocacy through local events he hosts via his non-profit organization, Angelic Community Resource Development, Inc., which focuses on HIV testing, awareness, and education. He’s also gaining more of an audience through a freestyle talk-show format he hosts on Facebook Live from this business each week. Milton says he’s seen the hand of God on his non-profit and for-profit business because he operates on principles of tithing and philanthropy. He’s seen the benefits of sowing and reaping.
“Faith has increased my bottom line by having enough belief to stick to knowing God’s word is what allowed me to pay off the building and not have that debt so I’m not dealing with the pressure of making a loan payment. Even when I was behind on the bills sometimes, I continued to believe and pray. I asked God to let me live to see the day I could pay off the loan for my building. I prayed the same prayer for a few years. One day, I asked the teller how much I owed, and she said, ‘You owe $175.’ I gladly paid that last $175 to own the property my business sits on today.”
The legacy of entrepreneurship and giving is what Milton says he wants to leave to his children and grandchildren with a message that all things are possible for those who believe.
“I kept the faith, and I hope my children always have the faith and work hard for what they believe in. I hope seeing me do it, motivates them.”
Jay’s Place is open Tuesday through Saturday. Walk-ins and appointments are available. Find out more by calling 706-738-4665.
