E. Ray Potts

Ray Potts was born March 30, 1933, in Corinth, MS, to Neely Clarence Potts and Lillie Studdard Potts. His primary caregiver was his sister Cora, who was 12 years old when he was born. He grew up in Tippah County, but moved to Tishomingo County in the 1940s. Ray attended Rowland Mills School through the 8th grade and graduated from Holcut High School in 1951.

After serving in the U.S. Air Force as a Basic Training Instructor, he returned to Tishomingo County and married Jo Carolyn Wade on September 4, 1953. Ray attended NEMCC and Delta State College where he earned a B.S.E. degree in Social Studies and Biology. From 1955-1990 he taught hundreds of students and a variety of subjects at Burnsville High School (MS), Alcorn Central High School (MS), and Cherokee High School (AL), where he was a beloved teacher and friend to his students. Ray was known for his caring, his vast knowledge of American history, and his many talents, skills and abilities. He was a creative teacher who made learning fun for his students. One example of this is the year he helped them build a log cabin on the campus of Cherokee High School.

After a brief hospitalization at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Iuka, MS, Ray Potts left this world for his heavenly home on June 21, 2017, and was buried in the Potts Family Cemetery. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Cora Potts Roten, and her husband P.N. Roten. Ray is survived by his wife Jo Carolyn; his daughter Suzanne; his grandson River; his nephew Dr. Don Roten; his niece Betty Roten France; his grandnephew Dr. Perrin Roten and three grandnieces, Meredith, Andrea, and Kay along with their families.

His entire family would like to express their gratitude to the multitude of family members, friends, and former students who visited him in the hospital, many of them daily. A special thank you is given to his "other daughter" Leigh Segars and his sister-in-law Patsy Wade who spent days and nights at the hospital lifting Ray's spirits and supporting his family.

A special remembrance of Ray Potts will be held in the Fellowship Hall of Maude church of Christ (AL) on July 8th, 2017, at 2:30 p.m., where everyone who attends is invited to share their remembrances of Ray if they would like to do so. This will be a happy, informal celebration of his life, as he did not want a funeral. The family looks forward to hearing your memories and stories about how he was a part of your life.