The Reverend Donald G. Potts, age 83, of Cassopolis, died peacefully Monday, May 29, 2017 in his residence, five days after his 83rd birthday and one day after the 57th anniversary of his ordination into the priesthood.
He was born May 24, 1934 in Newark, New Jersey, the seventh of thirteen children of Stuckey and Ophelia (Johnson) Potts, Sr. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Willie Mae Robinson, Anna Ruth Jones, Hazel Marie Davis; and seven brothers, Harold Potts, James Potts, Stuckey Potts, Jr., Nathaniel Lee Potts, Robert Potts and Albert Potts and Leon Potts.
Father Potts studied for the priesthood at Saint Francis College, Fort Wayne, Indiana,
Immaculate Conception, Hastings, Nebraska. After his ordination he furthered his studies in counseling and Spanish at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, New York University, New York, New York, and the University of Madrid, Spain.
He was the first African American priest to be ordained from Newark, New Jersey. He was ordained May 28, 1960 as a member of the Order of the Holy Cross (Crossiers). Father Potts taught at Our Lady of the Lake Seminary, Lake Wawasee, Indiana, Immaculate Conception, Hastings, Nebraska, and Sacred Heart Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Father Potts’ became a priest of the Diocese of Kalamazoo in 1983. His first parish was Our Lady Queen of Peace, Bridgman, Michigan. He then served Immaculate Conception, Three Rivers, and Saint Mary’s, Paw Paw, before coming to Saint Ann, Cassopolis, where he retired in 2015 in his 55th year of ordination.
Father Potts will be greatly missed by family and friends. He is survived by his two sisters, Shirley Potts and Audrey Potts; two sisters in law, Flossie Potts, Audrey Potts; ten nieces, Lucille McNally, Barbara Potts, Karen (Melvin) Hunt, Rosalind (The Reverend Lee) Johnson, Evette Potts, Yvonne Bogar, Donna Lynn (Mark) McKenzie, Sharon Jones, Shirley (Steve) Taylor, Stephanie Michelle Potts; ten nephews, Ted (Starla) Potts, Raafi (Sheri) Muhammad, Lawrence Potts, Albert (Francine) Potts, Jerome (Felicia) Davis, Jr., Keith (Renay) Davis, Edward Potts, Derrick Jones, Stephen Potts, Christopher Potts; a host of great nieces and great nephews; and dear family friends, former exchange student, Jorge Gaytan, former student Tom (Anita) Veldman, and parishioners, Jon and Julie Biek.
Family and friends will gather Wednesday, June 7, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in Saint Ann Catholic Church, 421 North Broadway Street, Cassopolis, with a Scripture Service Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. led by the Reverend Joseph E. McCormick, pastor of Saint Ann. The funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, June 8, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. in Saint Ann Catholic Church, by the Most Reverend Paul J. Bradley, Bishop of Kalamazoo, Michigan, with the homily being given by the Most Reverend James A. Murray, Bishop Emeritus of the Kalamazoo Diocese.
Father Potts will be laid to rest in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Cassopolis.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis. Please share a memory or a message online: wagnercares.com.