Meet Our Staff

Laura Ashley Lamm Staff Reporter

Laura Ashley Lamm began her journalism career at the Daily Southerner newspaper in town of Tarboro. Covering local and state politics, arts, healthcare, and education, she developed a knack for working with everyone and making quality reporting routine. As the Eastern NC Desk Editor for the North State Journal, she traveled the state covering the people and places between Murphy and Manteo. After almost two decades in the field, Laura Ashley is an award-winning journalist with her work showcased throughout the state and nation.

She began writing for Welcome to Tarboro magazine during her tenure with the Southerner, and has continued contributing monthly under the leadership of Publisher Gene Hudson. Laura Ashley also serves as a consultant for communications, higher education, economic development, and strategic initiatives. 

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Meredith College and a Master of Arts in Communications from East Carolina University. She will complete her Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership from North Carolina State University in August 2024.

Briyana Storm Baker Staff Reporter

Briyana Storm Baker was born in Wilson County and moved to the Leggett area in Edgecombe County when she was an adolescent. She graduated North Edgecombe High School in 2019 and attended UNC Greensboro, where she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelors of Arts in English with minors in Rhetoric and Public Advocacy and Creative Writing from the Lloyd International Honors College. During her time in college, Briyana published a thesis titled, "The Rhetoric of Animal Advocacy: Closing Communication Gaps", which discusses the ways that different social groups discuss the treatment of animals, the exclusion of agricultural workers in the dialogue, and offers solutions to make animal welfare conversations more inclusive. 

Briyana is a freelance writer and has her works published through the Welcome to Tarboro magazine. She currently lives in Conetoe, and in her free time, enjoys writing novels, playing video games, drawing, painting, and photography.

John H. Walker

Staff Reporter

John H. Walker, 74, has been writing much of his life, beginning as a sophomore in high school when he reported game scores and statistics for his high school to newspapers in Memphis, Tenn., and Jackson, Miss. He and his wife, Stephanie, came to Tarboro in 2012 when he was named editor and publisher of The Daily Southerner. He retired from the newspaper in 2014.

Walker began his professional career as a sportswriter and has covered the 1972 College World Series and Super Bowl VI in New Orleans, along with the Southeastern Conference, Southwest Conference, and Big 12, and was the beat writer for the Houston Oilers in 1987.He has edited newspapers in Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Nebraska, and North Carolina and his Bogalusa Daily News was named Louisiana Newspaper of the Year in 2008 and 2009. He continues to write for Welcome to Tarboro regularly and is the editor and publisher of My Tarboro Today, an online newspaper covering Edgecombe County.

John and Stephanie have three grandsons — Alex, a freshman at NC A&T, Dominick, a high school junior, and 8-year-old Trey — and live with a 13-year-old Lab mix rescue, Rex. He is a lifetime Mississippi State fan and an avid baseball fan. He is a past president of the Tarboro Edgecombe Golden Seniors. He serves on the boards of the Salvation Army and the Edgecombe County Veterans Military Museum. He is a member of the Tarboro Historic District Commission and the Edgecombe Tourism Authority.

Patsy Miller

Columnist

Patsy was born in Scotland Neck, NC where her father was Editor and Publisher of the Commonwealth newspaper for many years.  He told her “You've got printer's ink in your veins, so use it!.”  She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, majoring in Spanish and English.  She has taught in CA, VA, and NC.  Retired from teaching Spanish at Tarboro High School, Edgecombe Early College, and Rocky Mount Academy.  Married to a Marine officer in 1960, she lived in and traveled through the British Isles, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and many parts of the USA.  They had three children who traveled with them, and in 1984, they moved to Tarboro, operated a Bed and Breakfast for 20 years, which they closed in 2005.  Patsy has done her share of volunteering with a myriad of hobbies, her favorite being the President of the London chapter of Sweet Adelines, an international barbershop harmony organization.  (She sang bass!) 

She has written for several newspapers, including her husband's Rotary Governors' newsletter.  She loves to promote Tarboro and that includes her contributions to the Tarboro Magazine.

Denise Taylor has worked with the magazine in circulation for many years. Prior to her job with Welcome to Tarboro, Denise was the graphic designer for the Daily Southerner.  Denise is a mom of three children, Casey, Logan, and Elizabeth. 

In memory of Joe, a faithful employee and friend of Welcome to Tarboro, who is sorely missed. 

Joe began his career with his bicycle as a newspaper delivery boy for the Daily Southerner. Through the years he worked his way up through the ranks to circulation manager. Following the closure of the paper, he became circulation manager for the Welcome to Tarboro Magazine.