Finding Your Way: Hal White's Name Now Guides Visitors to Jackson Landmark
In a touching ceremony that brought together family, friends, and city leaders, downtown Jackson celebrated the dedication of "Hal White Way," honoring the late restaurateur whose establishment has been central to the city's cultural life.
The street naming, eight years in the making, now provides both a practical direction to the iconic Hal & Mal's restaurant and a permanent tribute to a man whose impact on Jackson continues long after his passing.
After eight years of planning and persistence, a small stretch of downtown Jackson roadway now bears the name of one of the city's most beloved figures.
Family, friends, and city officials gathered to unveil "Hal White Way," honoring the late Hal White, co-founder of the iconic Hal & Mal's restaurant and cultural landmark.
The dedication ceremony brought together the extended White family, city leaders including Mayor Chokwe Lumumba and City Councilwoman Virgi Lindsay, and many whose lives were touched by Hal's generosity and vision. The street naming provides a fitting directional marker to the establishment that has served as Jackson's living room for nearly four decades.
Mark Wiggs, who first proposed the idea in 2017, explained the practical origins of his vision: "Have you ever tried to give directions to Hal & Mal's? It's not easy." But beyond solving a navigation challenge, the renaming celebrates a man who helped shape Jackson's cultural identity.
Mayor Lumumba captured the significance perfectly: "This is more than just recognizing someone's name on a street. This is someone that has affected the culture of our city."
The emotional ceremony featured heartfelt words from Hal's brother Malcolm, his widow Ann, and their children. Brad White, Hal's brother, fought back tears as he shared, "I hope y'all know how much Hal and Mal love y'all and Jackson."
Ann White provided perhaps the most touching moment when she revealed, "I walked down this street, had to go to the courthouse, and I talked to Hal the whole way. I think he probably would have been smiling to know that he has this little street named after him."
The ceremony concluded with a family tug on a string attached to the street sign to unveil the new marker. After a brief comedic struggle that seemed somehow appropriate, the "Hal White Way" sign was revealed to applause—a permanent reminder of a man whose spirit continues to flow through the heart of Jackson.
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200 S. Commerce Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39201
(601) 948-0888
Website
Hal and Mal's200 S. Commerce Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39201