Horn Retires as MERF Executive Director

MERF Executive Director Anna Mae Horn is retiring from her position beginning this month. Not many people serve their community in as many capacities as she has, and the area holds a deep appreciation for her service and dedication.

Anna Mae grew up on Sand Mountain, attending Flat Rock Elementary, Ider High School, and Northeast Alabama Community College. In 2011, she married Bill Horn, who had retired to Valley Head. Her arrival was fortuitous for the area, as she soon jumped into community service, helping revitalize Valley Head School’s parent-teacher organization (PTO) by writing articles about them for The Groundhog. All three of her children attended Valley Head at the time.

Her connection to the newspaper grew, and in 2015 the Mentone Area Preservation Association (MAPA) asked her to become editor. For the next two years, she not only served as writer and editor, but she also personally distributed the paper around the community.

Meanwhile, add to that a stint on the Moon Lake Library board and a role in organizing the 2016 debate of the county superintendent candidates.

“You never know where one little decision is going to lead. And during that time of editing and writing, I got to know a lot of people in Mentone, and I saw all that MERF did,” Horn remembers. “Education has always been important to me. I get that from my parents. I didn’t realize it as a child, but they made educational moments out of everyday things.”

She lives out another lesson her parents taught her: If you see a job that needs to be done, jump in and help. As MAPA transitioned and needed a new president, Horn, in true form, left her position at the paper and volunteered to lead MAPA. Fast-forward to a couple of years ago, when she became executive director of MERF when the position came open.

Some years ago, she had joined the volunteer tutoring program at Moon Lake School, her first involvement with MERF. Later, she coordinated the food vendors for the annual MERF art auction, and in the past two years as head of MERF, she has loved being involved with the MERF scholarship program and making a host of other contributions to the organization.

In 2023, her service came full circle from the days of submitting articles about the Valley Head PTO. MERF began publishing The Groundhog in 2023, and longtime editor Kelly Leavitt was leaving the editor’s position. Horn stepped in, remaining in the role until recently, when Stephen Smith became editor.

Horn’s excitement about MERF is evident as she recounts all the organization has done and plans to do in the future. Most important to her is that students know they have a resource in MERF that goes beyond scholarships. She says MERF wants them to know there are people in the community who can help, whether they’re having difficulty with a class, or they need help honing their interview skills. There are people close by who simply want to help students succeed.

Retirement for Horn will mean time with family — her children, grandchild, and husband Bill — and all their activities. But this servant’s heart still beats strong for Mentone. Don’t be surprised if you see her volunteering where there is a need. And MERF’s senior lunches will definitely be a regular stop for her and Bill.