Rhea Sheldon Selected By The Mississippi Business Journal As One Of Mississippi’s Fifty Leading Business Women for 2007

Excerpt from Mississippi Business Journal: 50 Leading Business Women 2007
October 15, 2007

After graduating from law school, Rhea Sheldon thought her dream of becoming a managing attorney of a law firm was a long-term goal. She never guessed that after being out of law school for only four years, she would be offered such a position.

"The added responsibilities for supervising the attorneys and staff in the Jackson office seemed overwhelming at first," admitted Sheldon, quickly adding, "Who am I kidding? It was overwhelming. It took lots of patience from the attorneys, the staff and me. But by coming to work every day and doing my job, admitting the mistakes I made and laughing instead of crying, we managed to make it work. I couldn't have done this without the support of the entire office."

Sheldon grew up in Purvis, the oldest of three children born to Kent Hudson, an attorney, and his wife, Sue, a dental assistant. Her exuberant spirit was contagious early on, and during her senior year, she received the Spirit Award for support and dedication through 12 years of school.

After graduating with honors from the University of Southern Mississippi, Sheldon returned to Purvis with a game plan – she'd teach history to high school students while earning a master's degree in special education and then obtaining a PhD. But at the time she applied for law school, Sheldon found herself becoming disillusioned with teaching. "I didn't like the discipline aspect and found I was bored with teaching the same lessons over and over," she admitted. "I wasn't mentally challenged by the preparation for the subjects I taught. I'm sure like every other lawyer, I thought I could make a difference."

Sheldon excelled in law school, becoming involved in student government and law school organizations. She was a member of the Public Interest Law Clinic, sat on the Honor Council and was elected Honor Council chair. She was also the law school student body election commissioner and a member of the Moot Court board, Moot Court executive committee and Moot Court judicial relations director. As a third-year law student, her Moot Court peers selected her "Most Valued Member."

She clerked for Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Kay Cobb before joining Gore Kilpatrick Purdie Metz & Adcock's litigation practice in Ridgeland. She joined Abbot Simses & Kuchler in the fall of 2003 and was named managing attorney in December 2006, "to date, the most noteworthy honor I've received," she said. "Because Abbott Simses & Kuchler placed more importance on the quality of my work and my commitment to leadership, I was able to achieve in three years what most practicing attorneys wait years to accomplish."