Anne M. Smith, a graduate of Vanderbilt University, began her public health nursing career in Randolph County. Over the next four decades, she worked in seven counties and eventually rose through the ranks to become director of Public Health Nursing in Alabama, a position she held from 1964 to 1984. By 1957 she had completed both her bachelor of science in nursing and her master of science in nursing at The University of Alabama. In 1964, Mrs. Smith was appointed to the position of director of Public Health Nursing for the State of Alabama and Coordinator of Chronic Illness. In 1966, the state health department created the Bureau of Public Health Nursing and appointed Mrs. Smith its director. During her 20-year tenure as director, she established numerous new programs and services, including the home health program and the pap smear program. A true proponent of lifelong learning, Mrs. Smith developed educational and in-service programs for public health nurses throughout the state. She worked with university nursing programs to encourage clinical experiences for undergraduate and graduate nursing students in participating health departments throughout the state. She worked diligently to improve the standards of practice for public health nursing. Under her direction, merit system classifications were developed and constantly revised to meet the changing demands of the field of public health nursing practice. As a national leader in public health nursing, she served as president of the Association of State and Territorial Directors of Nursing from 1977 through 1979.