Page 146 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2026

FINAL SAY &
MARY MICHAEL
SUNDERMAN
About 20 years ago, Mary and I, like so many others, were recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. We noticed that countless stories of recovery were not being told. Most local, regional and national media were missing the smaller stories—small businesses reopening, charities stepping up to help those in need, and people who simply would not give up on their dreams.
With this in mind, we launched South Mississippi Living in December 2006 to provide the Mississippi Gulf Coast with a professionally published lifestyle magazine. Through stunning photography, design and compelling writing, we share all that our staff knows and loves about South Mississippi with our readers.
Each month, South Mississippi Living takes our 100,000-plus monthly print and digital readers on a journey of discovery—interesting people, charming homes, delicious cuisine, outdoor adventures and unique events, all wrapped in an inclusive package that celebrates our coastal culture, history and lifestyle.
Since our first issue, we’ve published 229 issues and have printed and distributed nearly 3 million free copies. We’ve produced more than 41,000 pages filled with local stories and photos written by local editors and writers. Through stunning photography, design and compelling writing, we continue to share what we love most about this region.
South Mississippi Living also prides itself on supporting more than 100 local charities. Since our debut, we have donated more than $1 million to organizations that give so much back to our communities.
Best of all, we provide this award-winning lifestyle magazine free
to our readers. South Mississippi Living is not only the number one regional magazine—it is the best value. We are locally owned, written and produced by locals for locals.
Over the years, we’ve added several additional publications, including Play Coastal Mississippi with Coastal Mississippi, the Peter Anderson Festival Guide, annual city guides for Biloxi, Pascagoula, Gulfport, Ocean Springs and Bay St. Louis, as well as our monthly gaming magazine Jackpot! (started in 1994), our quarterly Mississippi
Gaming News for the Mississippi Gaming & Hospitality Association, and co-producing the annual Mississippi Gaming Hall of Fame Gala.
For the past 32 years, Mary and I have been blessed to call South Mississippi our home, and we thank all the friends, businesses, and residents who have supported our efforts to highlight this amazing area, especially our advertisers who make this free publication—and our ability to tell the story of South Mississippi—possible.
We wish all of you a happy New Year!
Publishers, South Mississippi Living
146 | January 2026
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living