About Us

Family-Owned. Locally Rooted. Protecting Mississippi Since 1982.

We’re not a call center. We’re not owned by Wall Street. We’re a second-generation family agency with 16 licensed professionals who answer when you call and fight for you when it matters.

Our Story

In 1982, Jerry James became the first exclusive agent for Nationwide Insurance in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He opened a small office with a simple idea: treat people right, explain things clearly, and be there when they need you. That idea built something lasting.

Over the years, the agency grew from one office to seven locations across South Mississippi. We transitioned from a captive agency to an independent agency, giving us the freedom to work with multiple carriers and find the best coverage for each client—not just sell what one company offered.

Today, Patrick James—Jerry’s son—leads the agency. The name on the door is the same. The values are the same. The commitment to treating clients like neighbors, not policy numbers, hasn’t changed in four decades.

We’ve had opportunities to sell. Private equity firms have come calling, offering to buy us out like they’ve bought so many other agencies. We said no. We’re not interested in becoming part of a portfolio managed by people who’ve never been to Mississippi and don’t know our clients’ names.

This is our home. Our kids go to school here. Our families go to church here. When a tornado tears through the area or a hurricane threatens the coast, we’re not watching from somewhere else—we’re right here, answering phones and helping our neighbors.

That’s what 40 years of family ownership means. It means we make decisions the way we’d make them for our own families. It means we’re still here, still independent, and still doing things the right way.

Why We're Different

We work for you, not an insurance company.

As an independent agency, we represent you—not a single carrier. We work with over 10 insurance companies, including Nationwide, Safeco, Progressive, Travelers, MetLife, and Liberty Mutual. That means we can shop the market for you, compare options, and find coverage that actually fits your situation at a competitive price. If one carrier raises your rates, we check if another can do better. If you need coverage one company doesn't offer, we find one that does. You get options, not a take-it-or-leave-it quote.

We answer when you call.

Our team of 16 licensed insurance professionals is spread across seven offices in Mississippi. When you call, you reach a real person who knows your name and your situation. No phone trees. No call centers in other states. No explaining your life story to a different stranger every time. You get a direct relationship with someone who understands your coverage, remembers your family, and picks up the phone when you need help.

We fight for you at claims time.

This is where most agencies disappear. They sell you a policy, collect their commission, and you don't hear from them until the renewal bill is due. When you have a claim, you're on your own with an 800 number. Not here. Our claims manager, Sybil Waters, has been with The James Agency for over 30 years. When you file a claim, she walks you through the process, follows up with the carrier, and pushes back when something isn't right. You have an advocate in your corner—someone who treats your claim like it's her own problem to solve.

We've earned our experience.

Our team holds professional designations including LUTCF, CIIP, and CISR. We have over 150 combined years of insurance experience. We've handled every kind of claim, every kind of storm, and every kind of coverage question Mississippi can throw at a family or business. We're not guessing. We know what works because we've been doing this for four decades.

Meet Our Team

16 licensed insurance professionals across 7 locations. Personal lines specialists. Commercial lines specialists. Life and health experts. Each one committed to the same standard of service that’s defined The James Agency since 1982.

Agency Principal

Patrick James

Second-generation owner of The James Agency. Patrick grew up in the business and leads the agency with the same values his father established in 1982: treat people right, explain things clearly, and be there when they need you.

Claims Manager

Sybil Waters

30+ years with The James Agency. Sybil is your advocate when you have a claim. She knows the process inside and out and fights for our clients like they’re family.

Agency Manager

Kandie Boutwell

Clients like Rusty Clark have called Kandie’s dedication “unmatched.” She routinely goes above and beyond to help with different needs and issues—whether that’s finding savings on auto insurance or making sure coverage keeps up with life changes.