by Hunter Dawkins, Publisher/Owner – editor@thegazebogazette.com or hdawkins@supertalk.fm
GULFPORT (GG) — After moving through the agenda at their monthly meeting in Gulfport, the Harrison County Board of Supervisors appointed former Circuit Court Judge, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and current Long Beach City Attorney Stephen B. Simpson to the Board of Trustees for the Memorial Health System (MHG – Memorial Hospital Gulfport) Monday, April 7, 2025. Simpson replaces former physician, Dr. Thad Carter from Pass Christian, who was appointed by the Board of Supervisors in 2017.
Although based in Gulfport, the MHG Board of Trustees have three appointed members from the Harrison County Board of Supervisors. The city of Gulfport has 4 appointed trustees, but the Memorial Health System has three hospitals across the Mississippi Gulf Coast (Gulfport, Biloxi, Stone County) and over 40 health clinics in 4 counties (Harrison, Hancock, Jackson, Stone).
After serving as a Circuit Court Judge, Simpson was appointed to the Executive Director position of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety by former Governor Haley Barbour. Following this position, Simpson obtained mediation certifications and is registered with the Mississippi State Bar Registry of Mediators since 2012.
Additionally, Simpson is a member of the Mississippi State Bar, the ABA, Mississippi Prosecutors Association (past president), Mississippi Conference of Circuit Court Judges (past chairman), Harrison County Bar Association, Russell-Blass Chapter of American Inns of Court (past chairman), Association of Attorney-Mediators, Academy of Court Appointed Masters and The Best Lawyers in America 2018. Currently, he a senior status judge and preside over civil and felony criminal cases.
District 3 Supervisor Dr. Marlin Ladner motioned for Simpson’s appointment, which the board unanimously accepted after Dr. Carter’s resignation.
Dr. Carter was a retired Board Certified urologist who served on staff at Memorial Hospital from 1980 – 2016, a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana College and LSU Medical School along with completing residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. Carter served as Chief of Staff, Vice Chief of Staff and Past Chief of Staff from 2010 – 2014 and was a Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy.
The Board of Trustees at Memorial Hospital meetings occur regularly on the second, third and fourth Mondays of each month at noon. Any change in the time or location for the board meetings, or the scheduling of a specially called board meeting will be communicated through public notice.
