About
MEET KATRINA
State Senator Katrina Shealy is a lifelong conservative leader and business manager with a proven record of creating jobs, managing businesses, and promoting good government in South Carolina.
Elected to represent District 23 in November 2012, Senator Shealy serves as the Chair of the Senate’s Family and Veterans’ Services Committee. One of only four female members in the South Carolina Senate, she offers her wealth of business experience to our state’s upper chamber.
Senator Shealy has chaired the Lexington County Legislative Delegation, and is also a member of the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children, the Child Fatality Review Board, and the State Domestic Violence Advisory Committee.
In the Senate, she has led efforts to eliminate the state income tax; and, for her efforts, Shealy received the South Carolina Friend of the Taxpayer Award in 2013. She has also led efforts to reform the South Carolina’s Department of Social Services to truly protect our most vulnerable children; and, for her efforts, Shealy was recognized as Legislator of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers in 2015.
With fellow legislators, Senator Shealy fought hard to strengthen the penalties for those who are convicted of domestic violence crimes. Senator Shealy even stood before her peers and shared her sister’s own story of domestic violence – one that almost cost her sister her life. Senator Shealy’s efforts paid off, with the passage of legislation enforcing stronger penalties for criminal domestic violence in South Carolina. For her efforts, Senator Shealy was recognized as the 2015 Legislator of the Year by the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse.
An insurance executive, Senator Shealy has been in the insurance industry for the past 40 years. She is a licensed Life, Accident and Health Insurance Agent and has held a Property and Casualty Insurance License since 1976 and a South Carolina Brokers License since 1993. Senator Shealy works as an insurance consultant for Keenan Suggs in Columbia, helping other job-creating individuals and businesses daily.
Senator Shealy and her husband, Jimmy, reside in Lexington. They have three daughters and five grandsons. The Shealys are active members of St. James Lutheran Church in Red Bank, where Senator Shealy previously served on the Church Council.
Senator Shealy has been involved with and recognized and honored by multiple local, state and national organizations and media outlets for her work. A list of memberships and accomplishments can be viewed below.
MEMBERSHIPS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Insurance Consultant to Keenan Suggs
- Residing in Lexington, South Carolina
- Born December 25, 1954 in Columbia, South Carolina
- Daughter of late Brooks Edward, Sr. and Bernice Bell Frye
- Married James Irby Shealy, 3 children, Erica Taylor Armstrong, Stephanie Michelle Shealy, and Rhonda Shealy Williams; 5 Grandsons.
- Founder, Katrina’s Kids – 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization to provide “every chance for every child” in foster and group homes
- Advisory Board Member and Former Chairman of Board, South Carolina Friends of Juvenile Justice
- Ambassador and Mission Achiever Award Recipient, Lexington Medical Foundation
- Advisory Board Member, Women of Hope – an Outreach of the Lexington Medical Center Foundation
- Lexington Medication Foundation Ambassador
- Executive Board Member, National Association of Women Legislators
- State Director, National Foundation of Women in Government
- Chair of the Human Services and Public Safety Committee, Southeastern Legislative Conference
- Former Children Services Panelist, National Conference of State Legislators
- Past Board of Directors Member, Lexington County Department of Social Services
- Past Board Member, Girl Scouts of the Congaree
- Annual Host, South Carolina Fallen Soldiers Honor Luncheon
- Featured Speaker – University of South Carolina Honors College, Columbia College, Coastal Carolina University, Clemson University’s Empowering Girls Program, and Girls State
- Former 1st Vice Chair, South Carolina Republican Party
- Former Chair, Lexington County Republican Party
- Former President, West Metro Republican Women
- Vice Chair, South Carolina GOP 2nd Congressional District
- Education Policy Fellow, University of South Carolina (2013-2014)
- Participant, Emerging Leaders Program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business
- Graduate of Leadership Lexington County
- Graduate of Lexington Country Sheriff’s Citizens Academy
2023
- BeHeard4Kids State Leadership Award, SC Network of Children's Advocacy Centers
- Senate Legislative Champion, Wholespire
- Advocate of the Year, Disability Advocacy Day
- Chair, National Foundation for Women Legislators
2022
- Legislative Accomplishment Award, Able SC
- Legislative Champion Award, SC Department of Social Services
- Women of Distinction Award, Girl Scouts
- Chair, National Foundation for Women Legislators
2021
- State Senator of the Year, SC National Guard Association
- Honorary Duckmaster, The Peabody Hotel
- Chair, National Foundation for Women Legislators
2020
- Outstanding Achievement Award Recipient, As One South Carolina
- Incoming President, National Foundation of Women Legislators
- Leadership & Service Appreciation Award, SC Suicide Prevention Coalition
2019
- Public Servant Award Recipient, The Christian Life and Public Affairs Committee of the South Carolina Baptist Convention
2018
- Palmetto Family Council Perfect 100% Legislative Score
- Elected Chair of the Southern Legislative Conference's Human Services & Public Safety Committee
- Southern Legislative Conference Executive Committee
- Legislator of the Year, NAMI
- Legislative Champion, Autism Speaks
- Champion of Opportunity Award Recipient, Foundation of Government Accountability
- Inspiration and Hope Award Recipient, SC Survivors
- Legislator of the Year, Donate Life
- Top 50 Powerful People Who Get Things Done in the Midlands
2017
- Palmetto Family Council Perfect 100% Legislative Score
- Special Legislative Award Recipient, American Legion Department of South Carolina
- Legislator of the Year, SC Association of the Deaf
- Legislator of the Year, SC Beer Wholesalers
- Respectable Award Recipient, Able SC
- Legislative Award Recipient, SC Department of Probation, Pardon and Parole Services
- Legislative Award Recipient, Children’s Trust of South Carolina
- Legislative Award Recipient, South Carolina Victim Association Network
- Health Policy Fellow, SC Institute of Medicine and Public Health
- Top 50 Powerful People Who Get Things Done in the Midlands
2016
- Palmetto Family Council Perfect 100% Legislative Score
- Common Good Award for Volunteerism Recipient, United Way
- President’s Award Recipient, South Carolina Foster Parent’s Association
- Champion for Children Award Recipient, Foundation for Government Accountability
- Champion for Children Award Recipient, South Carolina Network for Children’s Advocacy Centers
- Trail Blazer Award for Domestic Violence Prevention Recipient, North Columbia Business Association
- Legislator of the Year, South Carolina Speech Hearing Language Association
- Legislator the Year, South Carolina Association of Conservation Districts
2015
- Palmetto Family Council Perfect 100% Legislative Score
- Champion for Children Award Recipient, The Institute for Child Success
- TWIN (Tribute to Women in Industry) Award Recipient, Palmetto Center for Women
- Outstanding Legislator Award Recipient, National Association of Social Workers – South Carolina Chapter
- Legislator of the Year, South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
- Hyman Rubin Award Recipient, The Greater Columbia Community Relations Council
- Elected Women of Excellence Award Winner, National Foundation for Women Legislators
- Palmetto Trout Award Recipient
- 40 Most Interesting Women in Politics, The Fix (Washington Post)
- Best Local Politician, Batesburg-Leesville
- Top 50 Powerful People Who Get Things Done in the Midlands
2014
- Friend of the Taxpayer Award, South Carolina Taxpayers Association
- Legislative Conservationist of the Year, South Carolina Wildlife Federation
- Conservationist of the Year Award, Saluda River Trout Unlimited
- Green Elected Official Award Recipient, Keep the Midlands Beautiful
- Community Leadership Award, Woodmen of the World
- Best Local Politician, Free Times
- South Carolina Midlands’ 50 Most Influential People, Columbia Business Monthly
- Top 50 Powerful People Who Get Things Done in the Midlands
- Education Policy Fellow, University of South Carolina
- Emerging Leaders Program, Darden School of Business
- Board Member, National Foundation of Women Legislators
2013
- Terry Haskins Award Recipient, South Carolina Republican Party
- Strom Thurmond Award Recipient for Government and Public Services, South Carolina Federation of Republican Women
- Woman of the Year Award Recipient, South Carolina Federation of Republican Women
- Conservationist of the Year Award, Saluda River Trout Unlimited
- Stateswoman of the Year Award Recipient, Lexington County Republican Party
- Taxpayer Hero Award Recipient, South Carolina Club for Growth
- Friend of the Taxpayer Award Recipient, South Carolina Association of Taxpayers
- 93% Pro Business Score, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
- South Carolina Midlands’ 50 Most Influential People, Columbia Business Monthly
- Top 50 Powerful People Who Get Things Done in the Midlands
- Education Policy Fellow, University of South Carolina
- Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels
2012
- 1 of 15 National Political Women of the Year, Glamour Magazine
- South Carolina Midlands’ 50 Most Influential People, Columbia Business Monthly
P.O. Box 84783, Lexington, SC 29073
PAID FOR BY SHEALY FOR SENATE
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