Burn Ban in Effect. All outdoor burning is prohibited in Franklin County.
Photos provided by Amy Greer Thompson
When Amy Greer Thompson agreed to speak at the October Heart to Heart meeting at First Baptist Church, she described it as “watering her roots.” She thought it would be a good chance to reconnect with the roots that “grounded” her and instilled a devotion to community that has stayed with her. Little did she know how those “roots” would be inspired by her words.
Growing up in a small high school gave Amy many opportunities to get involved in academic events that helped shape her future: news writing, headline writing, persuasive speaking, and especially debate.
“I’m not sure I ever met a speech contest or UIL event I didn’t like,” Amy said.
She credits Minnie Laughton (Birdsong) with pushing her to use her energy and talent and love of words for good to others.
“Conjuring words became my professional life.”
A third-generation graduate of Southern Methodist University, Amy took her journalism degree to newsrooms in Longview, East Tennessee, and Mobile, Alabama, earning national awards for investigative reporting and documentaries over a 10-year period.
Each time she moved to a town, she looked for the kind of connection she'd known in Mt. Vernon, ways to get involved. She joined clubs and church and looked for ways to serve.
She met and married Jay Thompson, and they raised Mattie, Kathryn, and Major on their farm in Fairhope, Alabama. But in July of 2022, life as they knew it came to an abrupt halt when Jay died of a massive heart attack. That’s when Amy felt not a sense of “if only,” but one of “at least,” which resonated with many women in the Heart to Heart audience.
At least Jay had sold his company and had been enjoying some free afternoons in his beloved Montana.
At least Mattie had surprised her dad with an unexpected visit the weekend before, when they had hiked, had dinner, and just spent time together.
At least Amy was able to have a phone conversation with Jay 15 minutes before he pulled over at a park and a sheriff’s deputy found him following the heart attack.
Jay had the gift of knowing he had a choice on how to spend each day. He knew how to give the gift of his time and focus. As a result, Amy wakes up each day being intentional about what she does and if it really matters. She has specifically gotten involved in programs that benefit women and children, the homeless, the arts, and the environment.
In Montana, Amy built a Children’s Park in Jay’s memory and has been able to add a climbing wall and a pavilion. In Alabama, Amy is very active with the Baldwin Family Village, a transitional housing program for homeless women and children. She also mentors a group of young people and has played an active role in their high school lives.
Amy’s most recent opportunity to “water her roots” came in January 2025, when she met with a group from Mt. Vernon to form the board and create the vision that is now MVNow. The online newspaper has over 1000 subscribers who get the latest local news every Sunday morning.
Growing up, Amy and her sister Emily had access to daily doses of wisdom from their refrigerator door covered with clippings from family letters and cards from the 1940’s. Others were from the 1970’s or copied from books.
“But many unwritten phrases of Dad’s were my favorite,” Amy said.
Every day he told them to make others feel important. Making others feel important means the gift of giving your heart, time, energy, and attention. Amy went on to say that when life had its question marks, her Dad was always the exclamation point.
“If I have any good qualities to share with you here today, it’s because of Ken Greer.”
Amy’s grandfather also had a saying Amy loves that seems to fit her life. “The look is forward.” With love and grace, the look is forward.
Amy now lives on Mobile Bay with her corgi Sunny, when not traveling to check in on her daughters Mattie (28) and Kathryn (26) in Dallas, or son Major, who is a freshman at the University of Miami.
