Our Staff

JAMIE PATTERSON, Editor and Publisher
jamie@yazooherald.net

Jamie Patterson is the editor and publisher of The Yazoo Herald. She oversees the entire operation of the newspaper. She is responsible for ensuring that the newspaper is profitable while also providing the best community news and most effective advertising options in our coverage area. She is a veteran journalist and has won many awards for writing and photography during her career.

After earning her degree in journalism from Delta State University, she worked at both weekly and daily newspapers before joining The Yazoo Herald staff in 2007. Jamie has won numerous awards for writing and photography, including the Bill Minor Award for In Depth/Investigative Reporting in 2010 and the Bill Minor Award for General News Reporting in 2016 and the Bill Minor Award for Investigative coverage in 2018. She also won the Dan Phillips Freedom of Information Award in 2019.

She also made state press history in 2024 by winning a trifecta of top awards, earning the Bill Minor Prize for General News Reporting, the Bill Minor Prize for Investigative Journalism, and the J. Oliver Emmerich Award for editorial writing, the Mississippi Press Association's highest honor. In total, she is an eight-time recipient of the Bill Minor Award. 

She is involved in many civic activities and is a member and past president of the Yazoo City Lions Club and the Yazoo Rotary Club. She is also an active member of First Methodist Church. She currently serves on the Mississippi Press Association Board and the Mississippi Press Foundation Board. 

Jamie is married to Jason Patterson, a former publisher of The Yazoo Herald, and they have three children, James, Elsie and Jase.

SHEILA TRIMM YOUNG, classifieds manager
sheila@yazooherald.net

Sheila Trimm Young is the manager of classifieds and legal advertising, an advertising representative and handles numerous responsibilities in the business office.

She has won many awards for advertising and design during her career.

Sheila is a Yazoo City native who has been with The Yazoo Herald for over 20 years.

KAYE ODOM, bookkeeper/circulation manager
kay@yazooherald.net

Kaye Odom is the bookkeeper and circulation manager. She is responsible for billing and collections for display advertising, payroll, accounts payable and financial statements. She and her late husband Terry are longtime Yazoo residents.