I was born in Kittery, Maine. My father was a Master Sargent in the United States Air Force and my mother was a saint who was a homemaker to my large family of 8 children. We moved around the world wherever my father was stationed. We spent three very memorable years in France. My brothers and sisters and I spent our free time exploring the beautiful French country side. My family then settled in Fort Walton Beach, Florida where I attended Choctawhatchee High School.

I married Rod Richardson from Montgomery, Alabama at the young age of seventeen and have been happily married now for 51 years. Rod and I have two children together, Allison and Daniel. I spent my twenty’s pouring my energy into being a great wife and mother. I truly enjoyed that time caring for my two small children and am so grateful I had that opportunity with them. 

When I turned 30, I made the decision to begin my educational journey and enroll in college. My son Daniel was starting kindergarten and I felt that it was time that I start school myself. I enrolled for classes at Auburn University Montgomery and decided to pursue an undergraduate degree in Justice and Public Safety, which then revealed that I had a passion for the law and wanted to pursue a career as an attorney. I graduated from AUM, Magna Cum Laude, and moved toward my next adventure – law school. 

I was the first and only sibling in my family to attend college, so when I decided to undertake the next step to Law School it was a major turning point in my life. It wasn’t a question of how I would do it, I only knew that I was going to do it, and that nothing could slow me down or stop me from pursing my goals.I enrolled in Jones School of Law and embarked on the difficult and sometimes exhausting task of juggling family life and the demands of law school. I continued my role as a homemaker. When my children went to school during the day and went to bed at night I spent my time in class and nights studying and writing paper after paper with my mini dachshund Beebs in my lap. Thanks to hard work, patience and understanding from my husband and children, and the help and support of a wonderful mother-in –law, I graduated from law school with flying colors.

After obtaining my license to practice law I decided to “be my own boss”, and start my own practice. At that time, lawyers were clustered around the courthouses so I rented a small office in Hayneville, Alabama and embarked upon my career. My first case was representing the Chief of Police in Hayneville who had been accused of stealing money from the evidence cabinet. A few months after being licensed to practice law, I was in a courtroom defending my first case before a jury. The thrill of a lifetime was winning that first case! I was definitely hooked! There was no turning back.

I stayed in Hayneville for about ten years and then decided to move my office to Highland Home, close to where I live which has been a great blessing. I have been practicing law here for the last ten years and have been fortunate to serve my local neighbors and businesses. It is tough being a small town attorney, competing in this age of big billboards and never ceasing TV commercial lawyers. 

However, I have found that you can’t hide passion, kindness and real concern for the well-being of each of my clients. In the end, that is what makes you a winner, and is the driving force behind why I love what I have been blessed to wake up and do every day.