Mrs. Charles Etta Potts

On June 6, 1932 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Charles and Lela Mae (Tipton) Patterson and the world welcomed Charles Etta Patterson, or Charlie. Charlie was an only child and unfortunately her Mom, Lela succumbed to illness when Charlie was a young child and Charlie was raised by her Aunt and Uncle Roberta and Uncle Professor BJ and Roberta McGhee in Chicago, IL. Charlie begin her education in Chicago and showed great curiosity and intelligence and was twice promoted to higher grades. She graduated from Wendell Philips High School as still a young teen and later attended Northeastern University. Charlie showed a zest for life and had a love for entertaining and dancing, even becoming one of the Jimmy Page dancers. As a young lady Charlie met and fell in love with a young vibrant handsome man, John Thompson. They married in 1962. In 1963, they welcomed in the joy of Charlie’s life and the one who would become her best friend, Lisa Yvette. John preceded Charlie in death. Charlie took on raising Lisa as a young single mother and began working for Illinois Bell. She started as a switchboard operator, but her great intelligence and superior organization skills shone through and she was promoted through the ranks, breaking many barriers and becoming the first African American Female Regional Director in Illinois Bell history prior to retiring. Charlie always showed enthusiasm for living and was an avid reader and enjoyed sports, especially basketball, football and the Olympics, even being a season ticketholder for the Chicago Bulls for many years. Charlie attended Apostolic Church of God prior to relocating and it was there she accepted Jesus as her personal savior. Soon after Charlie met her soul mate, Harold Potts, with whom she shared a love of family, world travel, sports and golfing. Harold swept her off her feet and they married in 1992 and shared a life full of love and enjoying life. Charlie and Harold became snowbirds, splitting their time between Peoria, IL and Pembroke Pines, Florida when it was too cold in the Midwest to enjoy their favorite pastime, golf. In Florida, Charlie was an active member of the Universal Truth Center for Better Living under the Pastoral Leadership of the Late Reverend Dr. Mary Tumpkin and later Rev. Charles Taylor. Family was always important to Charlie she was thrilled when Lisa and her husband Ken added to the family her new prides and joy, grandsons Chancelor Johnathan and Taylor Matthew. Charlie spent much time commuting between Peoria to visit with Lisa and the family as well as having the boys in the summer to stay with her and Harold. In September of 2015, Charlie was blessed and elated to meet the newest member of the family, her Great- Granddaughter, Kensli Mae Bennett. Charlie leaves a lasting impression on the many people she touched, loved and who loved her: Her Daughter and Best Friend, Lisa (Ken) Bennett, Husband: Harold Potts, Grandsons: Chancelor Johnathan, Taylor Matthew; Great Granddaughter: Kensli Mae Bennett; Stepchildren: Harold (Sun) Potts Jr, Michael (Pam) Potts, Jobyrna (Gary) Dupree, J. Christopher (Prashanti) Thompson; Auntie: Consuelo Hendon; Sisters: Pastor Catherine (Thompson) Purdom, Deacon Nancy (Thompson) Woods, niece: Sherri Carter, Dear Friends: Vera Payne, Barbara Williams and a large circle of loving relations and close friends. Visitation will be held Friday, February 26, 2016 from 12 PM to 5 PM and also from 10 am to 11 am on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at Cage Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held also at Cage Funeral Home at 11 am, Saturday, February 27, 2016. Charlie will be laid to rest at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, IL on Monday, February 29, 2016.

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Mrs. Charles Etta Potts

June 6, 1932 - February 20, 2016