After a two-month leave to undergo cancer treatment, Patricia Fuhrmeister returned to Columbiana Friday just in time to begin her third term as Shelby County&8217;s Probate Judge.

&8220;You&8217;ve never seen anybody smile so much just to walk through that courthouse door,&8221; said Fuhrmeister, who recently shared news that she was in remission after weeks of intense treatment at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

&8220;I think I&8217;ve been on nearly every prayer list in Shelby County,&8221; Fuhrmeister said. &8220;And I&8217;m very grateful for that.&8221;

Fuhrmeister began treatment for a form of acute adult leukemia in October.

She said she was touched by the amount of support from friends and coworkers while she and her husband, Jim, were in Texas.

Chief Probate Clerk Kim Melton handled the bulk of day-today duties in Fuhrmeister&8217;s absence.

Shelby County judges, including the recently retired Al Crowson, pitched in to hear some of Furhmeister&8217;s cases.

&8220;We have had more support and help than we could ever have imagined.&8221;

Fuhrmeister is the son of Pelham&8217;s first mayor and has two sons, Chris and Will