Horace Sellers Merrill, a former public servant and Alabama Baptist pastor, died Feb. 17. He was 80.
Merrill, born in Micaville, graduated from Cleburne County High School in Heflin in 1954 and later attended Southern Union Junior College in Wadley. He began working at Dixie Mines Mica Mining Company before entering the political arena in 1964 as circuit clerk of Cleburne County, where he worked for 12 years.
Merrill was later elected probate judge and chairman of the Cleburne County Commission in 1976, a position he held for six years.
While serving the state, he also served several Alabama Baptist churches as pastor, including Happy Hill Baptist Church, Heflin; Cedar Creek Baptist Church, Heflin; Chulafinnee Baptist Church, Heflin; and Edwardsville Baptist Church. He also was a member of Heflin Baptist Church for more than 50 years, serving as deacon, Sunday School superintendent, Sunday School teacher, church training director and sanctuary choir member.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; two children; and four grandchildren. (Neisha Roberts)
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