World of Flowers

Have you ever noticed how, in a room full of floral arrangements, certain flowers catch your eye? The ones that seem the most artistically designed; the flowers so intriguingly positioned. You also notice that these arrangements are almost always from World of Flowers & Gifts. Their arrangements are standouts, and have been since 1979, when Ruth McCraw started the business. In 2002, Ruth’s daughter, Gina, & Carma Ainsworth took over the shop and continued the tradition of excellence.   

In March of this year, Scotty & Albree Florey bought the business. Albree had always loved working with flowers in the yard and on the farm. Raised by her grandparents, she gathered flowers for their Sunday dinner table and from the roadside to take to friends. She inherited her appreciation for flowers from her Nana, Jane Terry. Over the past three years, she began doing private events for family and friends, with good advice from Gina and Carma. They all three shared a mutual passion: art and nature.  

“We feel like the flower shop is our ministry,” says Albree.  “We are honored to help people in happy times and sad.  We get to share and show God’s love.  This is not a business for the weak; emotionally or physically.”  Their biggest challenge is getting the exact flower a customer wants.  And they love it when a customer says, ‘I didn’t know how to explain what I wanted, but you understood and did it perfectly.’

World of Flowers & Gifts offers flowers for all occasions using fresh flowers, plants and silk decorative arrangements.  They have two designers and offer delivery service. They also carry jewelry (by a Meridian native), beautiful pottery, candles, and a plush line. And, they will decorate your house for the holidays!!

They are a chamber member because they feel it’s what you should do.  They believe it promotes the growth of Meridian, helping to bring in other business.  The chamber adds more options and helps owners see new ways of doing business.  The community has been very supportive to World of Flowers and they, in turn, are very dedicated to the needs of the community. 

Loving what you do is what makes a business seem like fun!  “To finally get to do what you love and be able to provide for your family is a blessing!  And with five kids, I get lots of help; everyone contributes!” says Albree. 

World of Flowers & Gifts, a unique blend of art and nature. 

World of Flowers
1517 24th Avenue Meridian, MS