Sarah Jackson Potter

Published 10:13 am Friday, September 1, 2023

Columbus– Sarah Jackson Potter, 94, wife of Lee Sutherland Potter (1/26/1929 – 10/13/2021), passed away on August 21, 2023.

Sarah was born in (little) Washington, NC, to Blanche and James Jackson. She and her sister Frances grew up on a tobacco farm where she learned many of life’s most valuable lessons. Working on a tobacco farm back then was hard work. Sarah spent her summers working 10 to 11 hours a day, tying sticky tobacco to a stick which would then be placed in a hot, humid curing barn. Some days Sarah (being Sarah) would hide from her daddy and go read a book instead of helping with the tobacco. He would find her hiding in the middle of the tobacco field, in the house, in the chicken coop. Wherever she could hide, she would, just to read the next riveting chapter. From a young age, Sarah knew she wanted to be an English teacher. In High School, she was awarded a college scholarship and later graduated from Women’s College of North Carolina (now UNC-Greensboro) with a teaching degree. Her senior year at WC, she met the love of her life, Lee, who was attending UNC Chapel Hill. The two eloped in 1951 and spent their first married years living on different Air Force bases while Lee served. In each place they lived, Sarah taught English. In 1962, the Potter family moved to Monroe, NC, where Lee started an Accounting firm, Potter & Company. To this day, students of “Mrs. Potter” remember her with fondness and affection as she was quite popular. After retiring from teaching, Sarah would help at Lee’s office during tax season. Greeting everyone with a smile, Lee’s clients adored her as much as her students. She had such an infectious personality that to know her was to adore her. In addition to teaching and working part-time at Potter and Company, Sarah was a busy volunteer. Each year when school started back, Martha (youngest daughter) would volunteer her mother to be the Homeroom Parent. A favorite Homeroom Mom memory was when the power went out at East Elementary, and Sarah brought in blankets and hot chocolate. Sarah also volunteered as a Ribbon writer during Rolling Hills Country Club’s (RHCC) swim meets. Swimmers swear they could hear Sarah cheering them on underwater because her voice was so loud! Other volunteer efforts included being “the cookie mom” for Girl Scouts (made the basement on East Franklin Street smell like mint chocolate), and later she served in leadership positions with the RHCC Ladies Golf Association. In 2011, Sarah and Lee decided to live the rest of their retirement at Tryon Estates in Columbus, NC. What a great move this was! The Potter children cannot thank the staff (you know who you are) enough for all their loving care and kindness to both Sarah and Lee.

Sarah is survived by children Steve Potter (Carissa), Ginny Potter, Martha Bowen (Bill), and grandchildren Jay Potter, Sarah Bowen Wood (Ben), and Carolanne Bowen Timko (Max). She was preceded in passing by her husband Lee, parents James and Blanche Jackson, and sister, Frances Jackson Butler (Melvin).

A private service for immediate family members will be held at 2:00 p.m. at Tryon Estates, 617 Laurel Lake Drive, NC, on Friday, October 6th at 2:00 p.m.

Immediately after, the family will host a Celebration of Sarah’s Life, at 2:30 pm, in the Laurel Room at Tryon Estates.

Favorite Sarah memories are welcome!

Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

Sanders Funeral Home
Columbus, NC