Laurin Fields Stamm, longtime food editor at The Vicksburg Post, died Wednesday night.

Stamm, 83, is survived by her husband of 58 years, Jack Stamm.

Karen Gamble, former managing editor of The Vicksburg Post, worked with Stamm for 25 years.

“She was at The Post for more than 50 years, and, to my knowledge, she never missed an assignment … even when she was having her five children,” Gamble said.

Even with her consistent dedication to the newspaper, Gamble said it was apparent that Stamm’s family always came first.

Stamm also was known in the newsroom for always being able to find a story anywhere and at anytime.

“Lauren could make a food story out of anything, from the Chinese Year of the Pig, to a family vacation to a hurricane-forced overnight stay in a Podunk, Ala., town. She never hit the dry well,” Gamble said.

In addition to her skilled writing, Stamm’s knowledge of grammar and composition could not be matched anywhere else in the newsroom, Gamble said.

“She also always was the go-to grammarian in the newsroom. Everybody knew if Laurin said it was right or wrong, it was,” she said.

Personally, Gamble said she would often call Stamm day and night with cooking questions and said she could help her through any cooking mishaps.

“For those of us who worked with her for years, she will always be missed. Her dedication, her booming voice and particularly her love of old-time newspapering,” Gamble said.

In a column from January 1998, Charlie Mitchell said Stamm’s enthusiasm and wit were sharp in the newsroom.

“It’s always been a part-time job, but Laurin has always approached it with full-time zest,” Mitchell wrote.

Former owner of The Vicksburg Post Pat Cashman said the Stamm and Cashman families have a longtime friendship in addition to their professional relationship.

While at The Post, he said Stamm worked with him, his father and grandfather.

“Her food section was one of the most popular features we had,” Cashman said, adding most every kitchen and recipe collection in Vicksburg has clippings of recipes from Stamm’s food section.

“She was a great person, a talented writer and editor and a wonderful friend of the family,” Cashman said.

Stamm’s daughter, Story Ebersole, said her mother was “just a force.”

“No one ever met her who didn’t feel that force in her. She loved this community and shared her life with it.  She loved cooking and, of course, gave me that passion. But I like to think she gave all of Vicksburg that passion. She loved sharing recipes with anyone and everyone,” Ebersole said. “Her cookbook was her big finale. She was so proud to have that for everyone who had read her column over the years.

“Mom was also a force in this community in recreation. She loved competitive swimming and shared that with a generation or two of Vicksburgers. Swimming was a sport that allowed our family to be together, sharing countless hours. Mom thought everyone should be on the swim team,” Ebersole said. “She was a great mom for five strong-willed children and a great wife for the love of her life, dad. Her name is synonymous here in Vicksburg and around Mississippi with cooking and swimming.”

Charles Riles Funeral Home will be in charge of arrangements.