Rose Blount Potter Obituary

Rose Potter passed peacefully surrounded by family early Saturday morning. She was 6 days shy of her 87th birthday. She will be remembered as Maw by her grandchildren, their spouses, and her great-grandchildren. She was never happier than when she could spend time with any of them, and they all loved her without abandon.
Rose was born in Leflore County on March 21, 1938 to George and Thelma Blount, the twelfth of twelve children, in a cabin with a dirt floor. After George's death when Rose was 3, she and her sister Ruby moved in with their older sister, Edna, and her husband, Robert Henderson, where they became Mammy and Pappy to Rose's daughters, Tammy and Ann.
Rose described meeting Harrel when "We picked him up from the side of the road and he hopped into the back of the truck where some of us were riding into town." He soon became the love of her life. They married when they turned 18 and settled down in Belzoni to build a life together. Rose spent most of her time working side by side with Harrel for many years, first in the Sunshine Grocery Store, then the Sunflower store, and finally the SuperValu store. Later they shared the same office in the Tam-An building. They enjoyed golf (both were club champions at least once) HA football, and their grandchildren. Most of all, they survived and loved two strong-willed teenage girls.
Rose was a member of First Baptist Church, and a volunteer for the Humphreys County Jaycettes.
Rose is preceded in death by her parents, George and Thelma Blount, stepparents Robert and Edna Henderson, and all 11 of Rose's siblings. Her closest sister, Ruby Belock of Saint Petersburg, Florida, passed away just last year. She is survived by her daughters, Tammy (Glenn) Helms, Belzoni, and Ann Potter, Saint Petersburg, Florida; grandchildren Austin (Philip Gustin) Helms, Providence, Rhode Island; Chelsea (Bryan) Burge, Lafollette, Tennessee and Ethan (Vivian) Helms, London, UK. Great-grandchildren Hannah Rose, Thomas and Daniel Burge, LaFollette, Tennessee, and Sebastien and Liza Gustin-Helms of Providence, Rhode Island.
Rose also had a long-time helper and friend in Shirley Scott, a stellar golf partner in Miss Lou Reed, and an incredible healthcare worker who came to her in 2019, Latisa Baker of Greenville, and many other fine professionals who worked with her during these last years.
Her memorial service will be held at Eastside Baptist on Tuesday, March 18th, at 11:00 O'Clock. There will be a graveside service immediately following at the Belzoni Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please send any memorials to the Belzoni Cemetery Association, or to the Humphreys Academy Foundation. Register online and express condolences online at www.mortimerfh.com
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rose, please visit our floral store.