Help us congratulate Voice columnist Laura Beth Payne for being named the January 2020 United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties Volunteer of the Month.

Payne, who is known around here as Murfreesboro Mama, is a native of Murfreesboro and graduate of Middle Tennessee State University where she also received her masters degree in English. She has taught for the university, worked for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce Business Education Partnership, written for and edited Murfreesboro Magazine, and volunteered with local nonprofits including United Way and Read To Succeed.

Now a full-time stay-at-home-mom, she writes about exploring the city with her two very busy children in her weekly "Murfreesboro Mama" column for Murfreesboro Voice. She lives with her kiddos and better half, Nathan, in the Blackman community.

Payne has been instrumental in helping with Rutherford County Books from Birth – Imagination Library. She has helped with storytime at the library and has been an asset in helping to promote our upcoming Storybook Breakfast.

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