Michelle Deese Bain

Michelle Deese Bain is an Anniston native who has never gotten around to leaving this corner of Alabama. An administrative associate for Auburn University-Alabama Cooperative Extension, she has been a member of Junior League Anniston-Calhoun for eight years and has filled multiple leadership roles since joining, including VP of Public Relations, VP Community Impact, President Elect and current President. She received the JL President's Award for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 League years, and logged over 100 points last year for her volunteer efforts. Michelle is actively leading a new Gen X Lean-In Circle and continues to handle all of the JL Anniston-Calhoun's Social Media accounts.

A true believer of giving back to the community that raised her, Michelle participates in our community in various other ways as well. She has been a member of CAST Theatre for 20 years, serving as an actress and choreographer, taking part in some 35 productions. Additionally, she has performed with Actors' Community Playhouse (where she was nominated for a Broadway Birmingham Award) and Theatre of Gadsden. Michelle has coached multiple cheerleading programs throughout the area dating back to 1999. Most recently, she coached an all-star team at Cheaha Cheer and Tumble before officially retiring to raise her son (who she had at the age of 40!) She currently volunteers with Classroom in the Forest, Alzheimer’s Association, Moms Demand Action, Free Mom Hugs, and serves on the Altar Guild and in Children’s Chapel at St. Michael's Episcopal Church. Additionally, Michelle is a member of Alabama Master Gardeners, Alabama Master Naturalists, Daughters of the King, YMCA of Calhoun County, Alabama 4-H, runs a Pet Food Pantry program, and leads the Youth Leadership Cleburne County Class. Previously, she completed the Leadership Calhoun County and Leadership Cleburne County Programs, volunteered with the American Cancer Society, ARC of Calhoun County, US Parks Service at the Freedom Riders Monument, was a Girl Scout troop leader, served on the board of directors for 2nd Chance and CAST Theatre, and was awarded the US Freedom Corps Call to Service Award.

After a cancer diagnosis, Michelle began a grassroots campaign known as "Michelle's Melanoma Army", where she speaks with youth from all over the state about the dangers of too much tanning. She was blessed to give her testimony as part of the Cancer Action Team before state law makers in an effort to ban minors from tanning bed use.

Professionally, Michelle jokes about being a "jack of all trades" since she's had job titles everywhere from Veterinary Assistant to EKG Tech to Cheer Coach to Administrative Associate, but all of those experiences have made for a most interesting and HAPPY life, and a great story to tell someday!