FEATURED COVER STORY
Wayne’s Meat Market
W
ayne Sosebee, his wife Debbie, and his son Eric
the better. He was pleased to play the role of mentor for his
are the new owners of Wayne’s Meat Market,
own son.
located at 307 W Emery Street in Dalton,
Eric began working with his dad at the Chop Shop
Georgia. Wayne has been working in the grocery business
training as a butcher and grill cook right out of high school.
for 41 years and counting. He met Debbie, his wife, while
In December of 2019, Emery Street was going to close the
working together at Stafford’s Foodlane in 1980. They
butcher shop, and Wayne and his family decided to look
married in 1983 and have been married for 37 years. They
for a location and start their own business. The opportunity
have two children, Eric and Briana, the latter of whom lives
to lease their current location came quickly. On January
in Oregon. The Sosebee family feel fortunate to own their
1, 2020, Wayne’s Meat Market was formed. Debbie, who
own business. The journey began with Wayne’s learning and
owned her own day care business for 12 years, closed it so
accumulating skills and knowledge from a young age over
she could join the business in March full time. She serves as
the years. He credits this to some great mentors throughout
accountant, oversees groceries, helps Eric make deli salads,
his career.
and bakes desserts. They work well together and take pride
Wayne started out working for Neil Westmoreland at Town and Country Market. Neil took him under his wing and taught him a great work ethic. At Stafford’s Foodlane, Ed Pippin and Fletcher Cline had years of experience and shared with Wayne their wisdom and skills that he took to heart to improve himself as a meat cutter. Marvin Green hired him at The Green Spot Grocery, where he worked for 12 years in the meat market. After Marvin’s death, Wayne went to work at The Chop Shop, then Emery Street Market. He feels blessed to have had these men influence his life for
26 // September 2020
in the services they provide.
