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I grew up in the midwest, but have lived in the South for over forty years.
As a kid we addressed adults as Mrs., Mr. or Miss Last Name.
Living in the South for so long I've picked up the habit of saying ma-am or sir. Use them regardless the other person's age. It's a sign of respect in the South.
My job entails working with kids. My last name is hyphenated and difficult to pronounce. I have no problem with the kids calling me Miss Fristname. My co-workers and I wiil refer to one another as Miss or Mr Firstname when talking to the kids, in part because we work in a residential facility. It would be offputting and create a distance between the kids and staff if we required the kids to use last names. It's also a Southern thing to address adults as Miss or Mr Firstname. It's not meant as a slight to married women, it's meant as a sign of respect.
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