Annette E. Holcomb

I grew up on a farm in the Asbury Community. My parents raised cattle. My father was also a machinist on the Arsenal in Huntsville, where he helped build the first motor to take “Man to the Moon”.

My family and I were members of Asbury Methodist Church. At age 7, I was saved. I got baptized at 12. I took piano and organ lessons as a child and played both at church.

My first job at age 16, was as a waitress at Lake Guntersville State Park. The drive was very beautiful. I always saw wildlife when leaving work at night on the road. I graduated from Albertville High School, took classes at Snead State Community College and graduated from Gadsden State Community College with Associates Degree in Nursing. I later went on to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from Jacksonville State University and a Master's Degree in Leadership in Healthcare from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

I met my husband Richard Holcomb, who grew up in Boaz and graduated from Crossville High School. He also went to Snead State Community College and obtained an Associate's Degree in Science. He then went on to UAH, where he obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering. We just celebrated our 44th Anniversary.

My first nursing job was at Druid City Hospital in Tuscaloosa, AL. I worked in the ICU and CCU. Then, my husband’s job took us to California for a few months, where I also worked in the ICU. When we moved back to Alabama, I was pregnant with my first daughter and worked part time at Boaz-Albertville Hospital, currently known as Marshall Medical Center South. After a few years, I went to work at Holy Name of Jesus Hospital in Gadsden, now currently Riverview Regional Medical Center. There, I worked in ICU, emergency department for 14 years, was a charge nurse, ACLS and PALS instructor, and then moved to the OR. I learned to scrub and circulate open heart, general, and orthopedic cases. During this time, I had 3 more daughters.

In September of 2008 after all my daughters had graduated high school, I began travel nursing to Colorado, Virginia, Florida, and Tennessee. I obtained my bachelor’s and master’s degree during this time. I also became a manager of CVOR, then later a director of the OR. I was over 5 departments with 88 employees. I helped recruit physicians, create jobs, hire staff, and promote continued education and certification to my employees. I had 8 employees obtain certifications in their field of specialty.

In 2019, I came back to my home, and started teaching nursing students and nurses aid students at Snead State Community College as a clinical instructor. I have made many valuable friendships along the way. Nursing has been a great career for me. I served my patients well, and now I want to serve the people of Marshall County Alabama.

I love this country and this state. It is known as “Alabama the Beautiful” for a reason. We have mountains, trees, farmland, caverns, lakes, rivers, and the beach. What is happening to our country is alarming. I was taught at a young age to respect the flag and stand for the National Anthem. What is happening across our country: Defunding police with crime rates soaring, veterans living on the streets while the government houses illegal immigrants, and all the issues arising with education, such as Common Core and Critical Race Theory.

I believe it is time I take a stand and make the voices of the citizens heard. We need a proven leader that can balance budgets and cut wasteful spending. We need a leader that loves our country and wants our children to learn how and why our forefathers founded this county. Our children need to know what makes our country unique and special and worth preserving. We need an educator who can work with our schools and parents to repeal Common Core and allow local school boards to own, manage, and implement their own curriculum that can be tailored to the needs of the local students.

General Colin Powell once said, “All of us owe something to our country for what our country has given to us. We can never repay in full measure we can only try. Service to our country should be an essential part of every citizen’s make-up.” I want to SERVE the people of Marshall County, and together we will continue to have a better place for our families to work and live.