More than two decades after helping launch Alfa Health, Linda S. Finney retires as its manager on May 4, ending a 35-year career with the Alabama Farmers Federation.Finney began as a receptionist for the Alabama Farm Bureau in June 1969 after her mother “invited” her to not return to Auburn University. She also worked with W.T. Maynor on the Farm Bureau newsletter, and helped the forerunner of Alfa Health — Rural Health of Alabama — mail quarterly payments to Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Birmingham. She left the Federation in 1969 to marry and move to North Carolina, but returned in May 1973 as an application clerk in the Rural Health division. She held each position in the division before being named manager in June 1976. Alfa Health now has more than 60,000 policies.”Linda has given more than three decades of untiring, dedicated service to our members who are Alfa Health policyholders,” said J. Paul Till, administrator of Alfa Health and the Federation. “Her experience and expertise will be greatly missed.”Finney has two sons, a daughter and two grandsons. She said she’s looking forward to spending retirement aboard the family’s pontoon boat, fishing, gardening and raising chickens.”I will miss my Alfa family and friends and the members, contacts and co-workers across Alabama that have been a part of my past and present life,” said Finney, who lives on Lake Jordan with her husband, Jerry. “Thanks for the memories, and I hope to see you in the future.”