Local church honors life-long member Edward Potts

Edward Potts with his six older sisters (L-R): Bonnette Wood, Hazel Dukes, Linda Fields, Carrie Moreland, Toni, and Brenda Potts

(Franklin, GA) — Heard Wesley United Methodist Church recently honored one of its most tenured members, Mr. Edward Potts, with a special “Honoring Ceremony” on Sunday, June 9.

A host of family, friends, and members of the church gathered to recognize Edward, a member of the church for his entire life.

The beloved Heard County icon and inaugural Heard County Athletics Hall of Famer celebrated his 59th birthday this week.

The church program featured a welcome by one of Edward’s six older sisters, Bonnette Wood and several songs by church choir members.

Three special guests and longtime school system friends Lori Cabe, Kathy Scott, Kenneth Redding and Lance Taylor each offered reflections to the congregation about their respective memories of Edward.

Edward’s sister Toni Potts Blanchard along with her daughter Aleeyah and friend Shari Whatley performed a liturgical dance entitled “I See Miracles” in Edward’s honor.

Edward’s sisters shared stories about his perseverance as a child despite being born with the physical limitations of Cerebral Palsy. They mentioned his stubbornness and desire to be independent growing up as their ‘baby’ and only male child of the seven siblings.

They talked about his love and passion for Heard County High School sports and how he once during high school even faked an illness in order to miss church so he could sneak away with the Braves to football camp.

The special guest speaker for the event was Reverend Johnny Strickland. All of the speakers, family members, and those sharing reflections echoed very similar sentiments about Edward being kind, compassionate, and an extremely hard and dedicated worker at HCHS.

If Edward has a doctor’s appointment at 8:00 AM he still goes to work for 30 minutes before leaving and returns to the high school immediately after.

Edward was named the Heard Citizen’s Most Inspirational Person of 2017. He began working at the high school while still a student and has remain employed there ever since. He graduated with the Class of 1978.