Amy Ramshur is a quiet, focused employee who works in the meat department at the Magee Piggly Wiggly. However unassuming in her white butcher’s coat and cap, hair tucked up, she is well versed and well known to her Pig customers.
“I used to work at a salvage store in McComb, Hudson’s, and I transferred from there to the one in Magee. I stayed for five years,” Ramshur said. When she found out Piggly Wiggly was hiring in May 2011 she applied and was hired as a cashier. She moved to stocking and then the meat market.
When she first started in that market Ramshur was apprehensive about becoming a butcher, not that she is squeamish. She admits to being around slaughtering all her life. The apprehension was a result of the equipment and the noise. Ramshur acclimated quickly, however, and readily states she loves her job.
Ramshur grew up in Summit, MS, but met her husband, Tommy, when they attended Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson at the same time. They dated for five years before marrying in July 2009, celebrating 14 years together this summer.
Tommy grew up in the New Hebron community and the two now make his grandmother’s house their home. It is only steps away from the house where Tommy was raised.
Amy loves her cozy home. “When I first came here to visit everything was like Grandma. The kitchen is still Grandma. When Tommy’s mom moved in to her own new house and she let us have this one, I told her I’m not going to change a thing in that kitchen. The only thing I might do is paint the cabinets to make it my own. Nothing else is going to be touched.” And that was the only change she made.
While Amy loves her job she also loves to cook and bake, so much so that she published a cookbook through Amazon, Country Cooking with Amy that can be purchased on-line. It is filled with family recipes along with her own creations.
Ramshur grew up watching cooking shows with her mother, including Paula Deen, whom some consider the queen of butter. “She was the main one that pulled me in. I told mama that is really cool. They used to call her The Bag Lady. She used to make lunches and go out and sell them back in Savannah, Georgia. I heard about her story and thought I want to do that one day.”
At 39 Ramshur has decided that dream is no longer hers. “A long time ago I wanted to own my own business and it was going to be like a bakery but when I saw all the work you have to put into it, it’s hard work; it’s really hard work.”
The desire to write a cookbook was there for a long while. Once Tommy’s younger sister wrote her own cookbook and had it published, Amy’s mother-in-law pushed and convinced Amy to do the same. Some of the recipes in her first published cookbook she remembers making alongside her mother and grandmother. Mrs. Ramshur said, “Now I got two of my baby girls both got books. My daughter’s got one and you have yours,”Amy recounted. I
In addition she kept the book a secret from her own mother until it was published so Amy could surprise her.
Her customers seek her out for opinions and advice; rightly so, as she knows her products and what her customers like. Often times Ramshur will jot down ideas of theirs and her own and then flesh them out when she has more time, experimenting at home.
While Ramshur has no desire to be a manager, her supervisor, James Ainsworth, relies on her when he is not there to handle the salesmen and vendors. “I know what it’s like to be a manager…twice,” and has no desire to repeat history. However, she is well thought of by sales representatives.
In her nearly 12 years at Piggly Wiggly Ramshur has only been hurt once on the job, a bump of her knuckles she said, while cutting meat. A quick trip to the Magee General Hospital Emergency Room warranted visits by doctors and nurses checking on her well being. She returned to work not long after.
Even though Ramshur does love cooking, the couple still enjoys eating out. With Amy at Piggly Wiggly days and sometimes nights and Tommy working nights at Continental Carbonic Products, Inc. in Brookhaven, schedules are hectic. They especially enjoy the Hamburger House in New Hebron and Chinese food.
When they are able Amy and Tommy like to travel to Tennessee, especially the mountains of Gatlinburg. She also enjoys reading and crafting.
In addition Amy is currently working on her second cookbook, gathering and writing recipes. She is unsure however of the publication date.
