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The seventh of eight children blessed to the union of the late Joseph Richardson (United States Navy Retiree) and the late Naomi Richardson, Curtis was born in Jacksonville and reared in Green Cove Springs, Florida. He received his early education in the public schools of Clay County where he graduated with honors in 1974.

Upon graduation, Curtis attended Florida State University where he obtained a B.S. degree in Psychology. While at FSU he was active in many student organizations, including two terms as a Student Senator and a member of Psi Chi, a Psychology honorary society. He was also listed in Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities. Curtis would then earn a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of West Florida.

After brief employment he re-entered FSU to pursue a Ph.D. in School Psychology. In 1983 he received a Master's degree in School Psychology and immediately began work as a School Psychologist in the Gadsden County School System.

Curtis would spend the next ten years in the school district and in 1991, Betty Castor, then Commissioner of Education, invited him to join her staff at the Florida Department of Education. There he served in several capacities including Legislative Specialist, Cabinet Aide and Interim Executive Director of the Commission on Education Reform and Accountability. In 1995 the late Governor Lawton Chiles appointed him Deputy Director of Cabinet Affairs. Following his tenure in the Governor's office he accepted a position as a Consultant with the University of South Florida's Shared Services Network Project. Curtis's professional career came full circle when in September of 2010 he was employed again in the Gadsden School District as Director of School Improvement.

In the Fall of 1990 Curtis's career in public service began with his election to the Leon County School Board. He was the first Black male elected to that post in the history of the district and served two years as Board Chairman. In 2000 he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives by the voters of district 8, encompassing parts of Leon and Gadsden Counties. He was subsequently re-elected. In the legislature he was a champion of public education, an advocate for government employees and proponent for accessible, affordable healthcare for all citizens. Rep. Richardson has been recognized for his work in the legislature by being named Legislator of the Year, and receiving the Friend of Education Award, Consumer Advocate Award, Humanitarian Award, the Morris Milton Award and more.

Curtis Richardson's public service does not end with his elective office; he has served in numerous civic capacities. He is or has been a member of organizations such as Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (Life Member), NAACP (Life Member), Leadership Tallahassee, Leadership Florida, Capital Tiger Bay Club, Area Chambers of Commerce, March of Dimes, Bank and Hospital Boards, Neighborhood Associations, Judicial Qualifications Commission and many more. For his service he has been named Person of the Year, Alpha Man of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Black Achiever, and Volunteer of the Year. In addition, he has received the Outstanding Practice in School Psychology Award, Servant's Heart Award, Outstanding Leadership Award and numerous others. He was honored with a Roast and Toast by the Gadsden Health Council and Mother Care Network in 2013. Recently he served as Vice-Chairman of the Leon County Sales Tax Extension Committee and the Imagine Tallahassee Steering Committee.