Reeves encourages community involvement at WAM luncheon

Apr. 17—First Lady of Mississippi Elee Reeves encouraged residents to get involved in their communities and praised women from Meridian and Lauderdale County for their efforts to support their home during her keynote speech Tuesday at the Women's Alliance of Meridian's Lunch and Learn at the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience.

Reeves, an accomplished financial advisor with Coker & Palmer, is also a frequent volunteer with a number of civic and community organizations. She has served on the boards of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra Foundation, Jackson Symphony League and Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi, among others. She is also a mother of three.

Rebecca Dulaney, who introduced Reeves, said the First Lady currently serves as a scout leader for her daughter's Girl Scout troop as well as chair of the board for the Mississippi Museum of Art. Reeves, she said, lends both her personal and professional expertise to a variety of organizations to help make a difference in her community.

"Her giving background is tremendous," Dulaney said

Being active in the community and volunteering her time, Reeves said, is something she finds both enjoyable and rewarding. She said she wanted to encourage WAM members and others in the community to give it a try as well.

During Gov. Tate Reeves' first term, Elee was responsible for the creation of "Fred the Turtle," a children's book that introduces children to historic places throughout the state and is designed to prompt student conversations that help children grow. Engagement in children's education by teachers, parents and the community is a vital part of helping students succeed, she said.

"I think that's the key part, for people to be involved with the schools. Parents, teachers, but also even people in the community," she said. "Volunteering in the schools, I think, is important, giving the kids another resource or even a mentor to go to."

With her husband a few months into his second term in the governor's mansion, Reeves said she plans to continue the work she started and build onto her success. One new initiative will be the America 250 Mississippi Commission, which was recently formed to coordinate the state's efforts to recognize the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026.

Reeves said she will be joined on the commission board by the wife of Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, Lynn, and the wife of Speaker of the House Jason White, Jolynn, to help plan the festivities.

"We have different people throughout Mississippi on the board, and I'm really looking forward to having a lot of celebrations across the state over the next year and a half," she said.

Contact Thomas Howard at thoward@themeridianstar.com