Family, group have fun opening of Mil’s Memories Photography

Family, group have fun opening of Mil’s Memories Photography

Published 2:42 pm Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Downtown Meridian welcomed a brand new small enterprise Friday as mates, household and group leaders gathered for a ribbon chopping celebrating the opening of Mil’s Memories Photography at 404 twenty fifth Ave.

The occasion, hosted by the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation, highlighted each the expansion of downtown Meridian and the perseverance of proprietor Mil White, who stated pictures has been a part of her life for greater than twenty years.

Ward 3 City Council member Tracy Tims, who can be White’s uncle, praised his niece’s- willpower to pursue her dream regardless of private hardships and challenges alongside the way in which.

“This may be a surprise to some, but it’s not a surprise at all to our family,” Tims stated. “What we say we want to do, there’s always somebody in our family that’s going to speak life into it.”

Tims shared that White misplaced her mom at a younger age and was raised partially by members of his household. He inspired younger folks in attendance to pursue their objectives and “go get it,” saying White’s enterprise is an instance of what can occur when folks keep dedicated to their desires.

Helen Sims, membership director for the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation, stated White rapidly turned concerned with the group after expressing a need to be lively in the neighborhood.

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“We have a new entrepreneurial spirit here in downtown Meridian,” Sims stated. “We’re going to make sure she can follow her passion and her dreams and make sure it’s a success.”

White credited her religion, household and supporters for serving to her attain the milestone.

White stated she started taking pictures whereas working at portrait studios earlier than spending 17 years with Verizon. She formally launched Mil’s Memories Photography in 2015 whereas balancing work and household duties.

She stated the journey to opening her new studio included years of working from a less-than-ideal house and overcoming setbacks, together with a 2024 housebreaking through which her pictures gear and reminiscence playing cards have been stolen shortly after she retired from Verizon to pursue pictures full time.

“I had no idea what I was going to do,” White stated. “And I’m standing here now.”

White stated pictures is necessary as a result of pictures protect reminiscences that households can cherish lengthy after family members are gone.

“Success is not getting to the mountaintop the first time,” she stated. “It’s failing and then getting that success again.”