Honoring Kelli Richmond – Isaiah 40:31 Alumni Hall of Fame Recipient

This year, we would like to continue the Isaiah 40:31 Award. This is a posthumous award that is given to an alum who exemplified Isaiah 40:31 throughout their life. This year’s recipient is Kelli Leigh Richmond.

Kelli Leigh Richmond was born January 8, 1982 in Baton Rouge Louisiana. She entered preschool at St. Jean Vianney in 1985, at the age of 3. In 1988 she started at Shenandoah elementary and completed through the fifth grade there. She then went on to Sherwood Middle Magnet, in 1993, where she was an honor student, cheerleader, and on the dance team. In 1996, she began her high school career at Parkview Baptist School. While at Parkview she was a member of the National Honor Society, a silver stepper, and she was also a part of various other clubs and organizations throughout those 4 years. Kelli graduated from Parkview in the class of 2000 and went on to receive her bachelor’s degree, at LSU, where she studied Mass Communications and Public Relations. After graduating from LSU Kelli, and a group of friends from Parkview, decided to move to Los Angeles to follow their dreams. Kelli was eager to enter into the fashion world and landed a PR spot for LF Clothing where she helped organize events, press releases and styled clients. She continued this for over a year but was somewhat homesick, so she came back to Louisiana and transferred to LF in New Orleans. Unfortunately hurricane Katrina hit shortly after that, so she took this as a sign to try L.A. one more time. She stayed there for another 2 years and decided to come home for good in 2007. In 2008 Kelli wanted to pursue employment with a non-profit organization and was quickly chosen to be the Development Manager for the ALS Foundation, Louisiana/Mississippi Chapter. She absolutely loved this work, loved her clients, and their families, and was very good at what she did! She made many friends working in this capacity and people automatically could feel her love and compassion. Sadly, in October of 2009, Kelli became very ill and was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 27. She fought this disease for over 2 years, but on May 1, 2012 she made peace with the fact that it was her time to go home to Jesus and that evening she did just that. She will always be remembered for lending a helping hand, her beautiful and contagious smile, loyalty and zest for life. She always lived life to the fullest; having fun and loving time with friends and family.

Kelli’s legacy lives on today through Kelli’s Kloset which provides free clothing and accessories for all women cancer patients, their kids and any kids battling cancer.