“I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to serve people while pursuing my career. This was very rewarding to me,” said Vernestine Bounds Kennedy
Kennedy’s work ethic and devotion to people blazed trails in Southeast Missouri and the Social Security Administration, where she was the region’s first Black claims representative, field representative, operational supervisor and district manager at various offices during her 40-year career. She did all this while actively serving in Christian ministries and raising a family alongside her late husband Victor Bounds.
Kennedy’s career path began in college as new opportunities opened up to Black students.
“Two things drew me to this career. First, as part of the Civil Rights Bill signed in 1973, representatives were coming to the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to recruit people to work for the government... Due to the government recruitment efforts, I decided to launch my career with the Social Security Administration. Second, I’ve always had a passion for helping people. The Social Security Administration is responsible for providing financial protection and supporting Americans throughout all of life’s journeys,” she said.
Kennedy was one of eight siblings born to Hazel and McKinley Greer in Swan Lake, Arkansas. She graduated from the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff and with a bachelor's in math, with an emphasis on statistics through a University of California program.
When she began her 40-year career, Kennedy did not realize she would be the first Black woman to hold several of her positions within the SSA.
“However, I’ve always been a ‘go-getter,’” she said. “I had to work very hard to be promoted. When embarking upon anything in life, I believe it’s important to be a good steward over the assignment that you have been given, and to do the best job that you can.”
Kennedy was the first Black claims representative and field representative in Poplar Bluff. The service area she covered included Stoddard and Wayne counties, and she recalls meeting one-on-one with contacts who could not make it to an office. She also managed public relations and hosted informational shows with coworker Priscilla McClellon.
“We had a publication and weekly radio show and would remind the listening audience ‘this is your right to know.’ I enjoyed doing this radio show with Ms. Priscilla McClellon and many other colleagues,” she remembered.
She moved to the Kennett SSA office in 1993 as a management support specialist and later became the region’s first Black operational supervisor. In this role, Kennedy managed the daily operations of 17 employees. Her next step up was to Sikeston.
“In 2002, I was promoted and became the first Black district manager, which involved moving to the Sikeston, Missouri office,” she recalled. While there, she supervised the construction of a new SSA building, which remains in use to this day.
In 2006, she returned to Poplar Bluff, making her the first Black district manager for that office and its West Plains branch. There, she “was responsible for management operations for 38 staff.”
The support of her family was vital to Kennedy keeping up with her busy, fulfilling career.
“I was able to have a career and balance raising my three children – Shauntae, Monica and Pierre,” she said. “My late husband, Victor P. Bounds, was supportive of my career.”
She also recalls the challenges of her job itself, and how she surmounted them.
“I had to work very hard to achieve these ‘firsts’ in my career. When I worked in the various positions, it was important for me to communicate and build relationships with everyone. When you start something new, like I did, it was easy to be fearful of the unknown. However, what helped me then (and now) was my relationship and faith in God,” she explained.
For going above and beyond in her work, Kennedy was presented with Social Security’s Volunteerism Award and its Managerial Excellence Award. She looks back with pride on the years she spent helping adults through the SSA offices and mentoring youth through the Welfare to Work program.
“My life has been enriched through all the people that I have met and helped throughout my career,” she said.
Kennedy retired in 2013 and fondly remembers her friendships within the SSA.
“I enjoyed meeting and helping so many people. It was important to me that people had the right information and resources available to them. I also enjoyed the people that I worked with and have lifelong friendships as a result. I still meet with some of them for lunch.”
Today she lives in Poplar Bluff with her husband Russell Kennedy. She treasures being close to her children, grandchildren, church family and friends, and she continues serving her community. Kennedy is currently a member of the Wheatley Historical Preservation Society and a tutor in the Succeeding in School Program. She is also an active member of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, where she has served in multiple administrative and educational roles. She has previously served the State Convention of Missouri in various roles including vice president of Usher Ministry and a special assistant to a past president of the organization.
“I like being retired from the Social Security Administration. However, I’m not retired from helping people,” she said.