Merriweather takes over City’s HR

Kelsea Merriweather has come back home.

Merriweather was a standout volleyball player at South Side High School and went on to play at UT Martin.

While at UTM, she got her degree in human resources, and has spent the past decade working mainly in the automotive industry handling HR for Toyota before moving to work for Ford a little more than a year ago.

The City of Jackson announced Merriweather as the next HR director for the entire city as she’s replacing Lynn Henning, who’s retiring after 32 years of service to the City.

“Replacing someone like Ms. Lynn is an overwhelming thought because of all her experience and knowledge,” said Merriweather, who started with the City earlier this month. “I’m glad I get a few weeks with her to learn more about the job from here.”

Merriweather is coming in on the back end of the City’s transition to a new software, and she said she’s glad to come in at this time as everyone in the City is getting educated on the programs like she is.

She said she enjoyed her job at Ford as they prepare for their operations to begin in Stanton at Blue Oval City, but it was hard to pass up the offer to be the HR director in her hometown.

“I was born and raised in Jackson, and I still live here,” Merriweather said. “My family is here.

“It makes sense to me that I would want this position if it came open, that I would jump at the chance to take it because it’s one of those that doesn’t open often.”

Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news