(This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights State Farm’s Kel Richardson.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born May 13, 1989, in Jackson.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I finished high school at Harrison Central and did my undergrad at Mississippi College.
Q: What was your childhood like?
A: I grew up outside of Jackson in Flora then moved to Madison when my mom remarried. My mom, Felicia, was a single mom, and she had me right of high school. We’re a very close-knit family. My parents and my grandparents, Willie and Michelle Richardson, did what they had to do to make sure I had a good life. My grandparents made sure my mom went to college and basically took care of me until I was about 5 while my mom was in school. They took me under their wing when she was done. I lived with my grandparents for forever. My mom and I have a close relationship.
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: I work at Samantha Alberson State Farm. There are three sales team members here under Samantha. My job entails reaching out to customers, explaining to them the coverages we have and the things we have to offer at State Farm and what sets us apart from other insurance companies.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: I’ve always been in sales. I worked in retail in high school and college, then I got into insurance after college in Jackson. Later on I moved to Natchez and did insurance there. That didn’t work out, so I opened a men’s clothing store. I was the first person to open a men’s clothing store in Natchez in 30 years. I had it for three years before I moved to the Oak Grove area.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: The thing I enjoy most is having that personal contact with customers. I like being able to explain to them what insurance is and why they have it. So many times I ask customers what type of coverage do they have, and they don’t really understand the different aspects of insurance coverage. I like to give them a rundown of what they have and fully explain every coverage to them. I want them to be able to explain it the same way I explained it to them.
Q: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
A: When I explain things to customers and go into detail why they need insurance and what’s going to happen if they don’t have it, and they say they’ll think about it when they don’t have insurance to begin with or just the state minimum. It’s challenging to get some people to understand why they need it.
Q: What was your first job?
A: My first job was as a bagger at the Jitney Jungle. I had just turned 16 and worked there during the summer.
Q: Who are the people who have been most influential in your life?
A: My grandparents. My grandfather is a Baptist minister. Growing up in a household with them I saw how much they care and love each other, and I see the way they treat people whether it’s strangers or people in the community. It makes me want to be more like them. My grandfather will tell you he was 13 or 14 picking cotton in the cotton field for 30 cents a day, and it shows me how his hard work has paid off. He’s always humble, and that’s what I always come back to. I work hard because of what I saw my grandparents go through.
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: It would be my grandmother’s chicken and dumplings with cornbread.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: My favorite place that I’ve been is Beijing. I enjoyed it a lot and absolutely want to go back.
Q: What hobbies do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I’m a big home freak so I like to paint, decorate my house and work in my yard. I love to travel. Every Friday I’m packing a bag and bringing it to work with me so I can go somewhere.
Q: What do you enjoy about Columbia and Marion County?
A: I’ve worked for two different agencies, and this is by far the best. The people are great. Everyone is nice. I get along with everybody. I’ve never had a negative interaction with a customer. Everyone is very understanding, and everyone listens. I’ve met so many people in Marion County, and I’ve only been here a few months but it feels like I’ve been here forever.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: My cousin, Faria Ealey. We were always so close. We pretty much talked every day, texted nonstop and I would go to her house every day. She was so outgoing and hardworking. We would laugh and cut up all the time. She passed away from breast cancer about three years ago at 27. That was a low blow for me, and it took me a while to get past it. I’d definitely love to sit down with her.
Q: Would you rather read a good book or watch a good movie?
A: Every time I watch a movie I fall asleep 20 minutes into it, so a suspenseful book.
Q: What would be the No. 1 thing on your Bucket List?
A: I want to go hog hunting and shoot from a helicopter. I really want to do it.
Q: If you could describe your morals in three words, what would they be?
A: Respectful, positive and goal-oriented.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: I already know how I’ll be remembered: fun, outgoing, always with a smile on my face, always the same every time you see me and what you see is what you get with me. I’m very welcoming, inviting, fun and always say what’s on my mind. I want people to look back and say Kel was always positive and pushed to want better and do better in life. It’s so easy to be negative or complain and have bad days, but I never see myself as having a bad day. I’ve had bad days, but now I look back and those bad days weren’t really bad days. Unless it’s something really terrible, I don’t really have bad days.
— Joshua Campbell
Pictured Above: State Farm’s Kel Richardson said although he has only worked in Marion County a few months, it feels like he’s been here for years. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
