Allanah Turner makes her living fighting fires, but the blaze that burns inside her won’t be extinguished anytime soon. “Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be a vessel and influence as many lives as possible,” says the 20-year-old Gulfport native. “I knew I had to start somewhere; why not my community? On Sept. […]
Monica Ladd and her niece, Andria Rodolfich, have long shared a dream of opening their own salon. “The beauty industry has always been in our blood; I had one of the first nail salons in the state of Oregon at a very early age,” says Ladd. In addition to her background in the gaming industry, […]
Some patients may still fear the dentist’s chair, but according to Dr. Clifford Cook, the old days of painful dentistry are over. “Lasers have created better work and require far less anesthesia — many times none …,” says Cook, a dentist with Broadwater Dental in D’Iberville. “Oral health is important to overall health, and I […]
For Dr. Tamara Harper, the pandemic has highlighted the fragility of life — but also its strength. Harper, a pediatrician affiliated with Singing River, may have to wear masks and protective gear all day, but she and her patients still somehow understand each other. “It’s amazing how babies are so resilient,” she says, “seeming to […]
As an oncologist, Dr. Olivia Hightower is used to nervous patients. But if a difficult diagnosis puts her in someone’s life, she does everything possible to make the experience a positive one. “I encourage patients that knowledge is power,” says the doctor, who practices at Gulfport Memorial Hospital, “and there is so much we can […]
When a client enters Polished Salon and Spa, they can leave their cares at the door. “In this crazy, hectic world, there’s not much time to relax and take time for ourselves,” says owner and stylist Rachael Hollingsworth, “so when our clients are at Polished, that’s their time to take a moment and relax.” Hollingsworth […]
While Wendy Figer was driving to her corporate job in the spring of 2002, a “for lease” sign caught her eye. “I was born with an entrepreneurial mindset,” says Figer, who holds a degree in marketing and worked in the casino industry and hotel operations. “I love creating experiences and making a positive difference in […]
Having escaped the worst of Hurricane Ida’s wrath, the Mississippi Gulf Coast has stepped up to help its hard-hit neighbor to the west. The powerful Category 4 storm slammed into south Louisiana on Aug. 29 with winds exceeding 150 mph, knocking out power to over a million people and causing widespread devastation. After completing the […]
Photography by Brandi Stage Portraiture On June 3, 2021, Keli Mornay penned a diary entry begging God for the strength to go on. “I am done with having a full heart that I give to those that stomp and crush it,” she confided to her journal. “I don’t deserve any more of this, not another […]
Having cemented its status as the “Nicest Place in Mississippi,” Florence Gardens continues to live up to its friendly reputation. The 450-acre, master-planned community, residents say, is an ideal place to grow up, retire, or anything in between. “There is such a warmth to our neighborhood, and I love the buzz of active families taking […]
