Jeanette Potts

Jeanette Potts Obituary Jeanette Fullenwider Potts was born in Columbia, S.C. on June 22, 1921, to Boysie and Flonnie (Jacobs) Fullenwider. After her father died of pneumonia in 1923, leaving her mother with four children, she came to Cleveland, Ohio to live with her aunt and uncle, Olivet (Jacobs) and John Jenkins, who later adopted her. They were friends with the Ben Potts family from Flat Rock, N.C. They moved to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1932, where Jeanette graduated from Walnut Hills High School. Jeanette visited her mother in Columbia after high school. Her mother had married Rev. Osborn Thomas and had five more children. Jeanette returned to attend the University of Cincinnati on a scholarship from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. On December 2, 1942, she married her childhood sweetheart, Benny L. Potts, Jr. and moved back to Cleveland. Three children were born from this union: Benette Yvonne, Michael Lawrence, and Madge Yvette. While Benny served overseas in World War II, she helped to break the color barrier at the Statler Hotel where she was one of the first persons of color to run an elevator. She also worked at Thompson Products (which later became TRW) where she inspected turbines used in war planes. Jeanette earned her B.A. Degree at Western Reserve University in 1946 and, later her master’s degree. She retired from the Cleveland Board of Education in 1979 after serving first as Assistant Librarian at Rawlings Junior High and then teaching at Barkwill Elementary (22 yrs.) and, finally, at Willow Elementary. After retirement, Jeanette volunteered at the NAACP. for two years, and then worked in her daughter’s Dental Office until her second retirement. Jeanette was initially a member of St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church where she served on many committees and was an ordained Deacon. In 1999, she became a member of Christ’s Church Contemporary in Hough where she served on the Worship, Fund Raising and Wisdom Council Commissions. When this church disbanded in 2004, she joined Euclid Avenue Congregational Church of the U.C.C, which became South Euclid United Church of Christ in 2014. She was a member of the Companions in Community Ministry, volunteered as receptionist, attended Bible Study, and served as President of the Women’s Association for ten years. Other organizations in which Jeanette held offices and/or retained Life Memberships were Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Greater Cleveland Alumnae Chapter and Bradenton Alumnae Chapter), Ohio Retired Teachers Assoc. (ORTA), Greater Cleveland Chapter of ORTA (GCC/ORTA) of which she was President 1991-1993 and again in 1997, and the NAACP. Jeanette was honored as a Martha Holden Jennings Scholar (for excellence in teaching) and received awards from the AARP, ORTA, GCC/ORTA, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Jeanette was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, as well as a faithful friend and caregiver. After becoming a widow at such an early age; she would check on other widows and older friends, take them shopping, to their doctors – or whatever was necessary. Her hobbies were reading, gardening and macrame (when it was popular) making lovely wall hangings and purses. She enjoyed making lap quilts with The Women’s Association, and dear to her heart was the “Merry Munchers” group consisting of former co-workers and longtime friends. Jeanette was preceded in death by her loving husband, Benny L. Potts, Jr., who passed away in 1978, her daughter, Benette Yvonne Potts Miller, a grandson, Ralph B. Miller, siblings, Rayford, Ora Mae, and Heyward Fullenwider, and Alexander, Leroy, Oliver, Margaret, and Rosalie Thomas, as well as a true friend and companion from 1991-2013, James “Rocky” Reed. She leaves to cherish her memory and celebrate her life, a dear son, Michael L. Potts, Sr., a loving, devoted daughter, Dr. Madge Potts-Williams (Charles E. Sr.), a cherished daughter-in love, Jaclyn Benita Jones Potts, four grandchildren, Damon L. Miller, Sr. (Kristie), Michael L. Potts, Jr., Janae and Makayla Potts, great-grandchildren, Damon L. Miller, Jr., Anthonie L. Miller, Sr., Annecia Miller, Mackenzie Potts, Silas Potts and one great-great-grandson, Anthonie L. Miller, Jr., sister-in-love Rochelle Thomas, grandchildren-in-love, Tracy Williams Gorman (Patrick), Shelley Williams, Charles E. Williams, Jr. (Lindsey), and great grandchildren-in-love, Kiran Meyers, Marin Gorman, and Miles Gorman. Also, many loving cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Please see the link below for livestreaming. SEUCC YouTube https://m.youtube.com/results?sp=mAEA&search_query=south+euclid+united+church+of+christ To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jeanette Potts, please visit our floral store. Read More

Jeanette Potts

June 22, 1921 - December 12, 2022