Anita McBurnett passed away on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at Marshall Manor Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility in Guntersville. Her Celebration of Life Ceremony will be announced at a later date.
Anita was a native of Lincoln Alabama and spent the last thirty-five years in Marshall County.
Anita loved her family and her many extended first responder families, being outdoors, fur babies, softball and baseball, her beloved Auburn Tigers and visiting the ocean.
Making a difference in people’s lives drove Anita from a career redesigning solid rocket motors to a career in emergency management.
Raised on a farm and having five siblings, Anita learned early on the value of hard work, teamwork and doing what had to be done. During her school years at Lincoln High School, she enjoyed mentoring younger students, played on sports teams, travel softball and was drum major.
It was that spirit of teamwork, her organizational skills and her ability to coordinate efficiently that drew her to a job in the EMA.
From 2005 until her retirement in July 2022, Anita served as the Director of the Marshall County Emergency Agency. Anita has received numerous awards throughout her career. In 2013, Anita was awarded Alabama Association of Emergency Managers’ most prestigious honor-The Pat Neuhauser Spirit of EMA Award. The same year, the Marshall County EMA won the AAEM Preparedness Program of the Year Award. Anita also served as the President of the Alabama Association of Emergency Managers from 2014-2017, making a difference throughout the State of Alabama.
In her two decade history with the Marshall County EMA, Anita was invaluable in guiding the county through numerous natural disasters including the infamous tornado outbreak of 2011 and of course the Covid 19 pandemic.
While her career did not define her as a person it was her heart and caring for people that made her perfect in her life as a daughter, sister, aunt and friend. Always looking for the best in bad situations. She made a difference!
Anita is survived by her brother Don McBurnett (Sue); her sisters: Sharon McBurnett and Donna Lynn Sanders (David); Brother-in-law: Leonard Mayfield; nieces: Belinda Mayfield (Kenny); Amanda Nolen (Danny); Katie Richard (Chris); nephews: Ray McBurnett (Robin); Barry McBurnett (Tammy); Dewayne Hubbard (Ashli); Adam Sanders (Brooke) and several great nieces and nephews and cousins. She is also survived by her partner of forty-five years, Diane Hunter. Her special friends and family members Don Hunter; Jim Govek and Gail Williams, Matt Williams along with her beloved Cairn Terrier, Kasey.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Sara McBurnett; brother, Larry McBurnett; sister-in-law, Faye McBurnett Howard and sister, Barbara Mayfield.
The family would like to recognize and thank the entire staff at Marshall Manor Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility for their friendship, care, and love for Anita. They all were a true blessing and a source of love and laughter in these last few months.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Foundation for Marshall Medical Centers. Donations may be made online at foundationformmc.org or sent via mail to 2320 Homer Clayton Drive, Guntersville, AL 36976.
