The sign was unveiled in September and Missy stopped through her hometown to celebrate with a few pics. A Virginia native, Missy was born at the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center and grew up in the Hodges Ferry community before graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School (now Manor High School) in 1990. In a 2022 interview with Essence, Missy spoke about her love for her home state.
"When you talk about game-changing states, Virginia has to be on the top of that list,” she said, listing folks like Ella Fitzgerald, Allen Iverson, D’Angelo, and Booker T. Washington. “We have so much talent that has gone on to become successful. It’s not just Missy, Timbaland and Pharrell – there’s Pusha T, and so many others. We always say there’s something in the water; that’s our big saying. It isn’t just artists, but legendary artists. Whether it’s sports, entertainment or otherwise, I just feel honored that I’m able to properly represent that.”