I have often heard “home is where the heart is,” but never thought too much about it. Since I turned 18, I’ve lived from one end of the United States to the other and have happily called each place home. On the other hand, my husband, Gary, was born and raised in Southampton County and had always called Virginia home.

For the past six years, Gary and I have called the foothills of the Carolinas home. An opportunity to be the publisher of the “World’s Smallest Daily Newspaper,” the Tryon Daily Bulletin, prompted that move. It was an exciting journey and we were blessed with many wonderful friends, a vibrant community with southern charm, a place where the small-town feel remains strong and yet has the amenities of a big city. What more could two people want? 

Always persistent and pulling at our hearts these past six years has been the call of home. Five of our six children live here in Virginia and most of our precious grandchildren. No matter how much we loved and enjoyed our Carolina community, our hearts were elsewhere, and we were left longing for home.

And so, here we are — back in Virginia where we truly belong, surrounded by friends and most important of all, family. Last week included the state Senate District 22 Candidates’ Forum at Hampden-Sydney College, where our youngest son, Garrett, is a freshman, dinner at our daughter’s home surrounded by grandchildren, lunch at my mother-in-law’s home with our son, Michael, and even more grandchildren and the list goes on. Life is good!

Thank you, Farmville, for the warm welcome, it’s good to be home.

Betty Ramsey is the publisher of The Farmville Herald. Her email address is Betty.Ramsey@farmvilleherald.com.