Muriel Rose Logan Potts

Muriel Rose Logan Potts, widow of Dr. John Foster Potts Sr., died March 9, 2008, in Charleston, S.C., of congestive heart failure. A Requiem Mass will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 29, 2008, at The Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness, 1895 Greenville Highway (U.S. 225 South at Rutledge Drive), Flat Rock, NC 28731.

Muriel was born in Petersburg, Va., on July 16, 1920, the oldest child of William Miller Logan, D.D.S. and Effie Gaskins Logan. She was educated in the public schools of Petersburg, graduating with distinction from high school at the age of 16. She graduated with high honors from Virginia State College at the age of 19, with a bachelor's degree in music with minors in English, history and a certificate in library science. Because there were no graduate study programs for African-Americans in Virginia at the time, the Commonwealth of Virginia paid for Muriel to pursue her master's degree in public school music from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. Years later, she returned to Virginia State to pursue a second master's degree in English.

After graduating from the University of Michigan, Muriel taught at Carver Junior High School, in Columbia, S.C. It was in Columbia that she met the man who would become her life-long partner — John Foster Potts — who shared her passion for music, art and dramatics. They wed on Aug. 17, 1943, in Petersburg.

Two years later, Dr. Potts was asked to serve as the principal of The Avery Normal Institute in Charleston (currently the Avery Research Center for African-American History and Culture). Once settled, Muriel became an integral part of Charleston's educational and cultural community. She taught music and English, and established the library at Haut Gap School on Johns Island in 1951. She also taught classes at Avery Institute to help the African-American teachers in Charleston and Georgetown pass the state teacher's exam. She chartered the Charleston chapters of the Links Inc. and Jack and Jill of America Inc. She was a dedicated member of the Gamma Zi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the Black Arts Festival (now known as Moja), and was an active member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church. Gov. Richard Riley presented her with the Order of the Palmetto — South Carolina's highest civilian honor.

In 1954, when Dr. Potts was recruited to be the president of Voorhees College, Muriel and their five children moved to Denmark, S.C. There, she assumed several roles integral to the life of Voorhees, serving as first lady, faculty member, chair of the Humanities Department, organist for college assemblies and director of the Voorhees Concert Choir, which performed in and out of the state.

After 16 years at Voorhees, the Pottses retired to East Flat Rock, N.C. As was her custom, Muriel immediately began to absorb the town's culture, becoming curator at the Carl Sandburg Home. But what she cherished most was her role as "Nana" to her 10 grandchildren, teaching them all more than their parents ever could.

Muriel leaves a legacy of the value of education, the arts, exploration, and 'togetherness' to her family, friends and former students. She is survived by her five children, Dr. Alma T. Young of New York, N.Y., Leila Potts Campbell of Charleston, John "Coupie" Foster Potts Jr. (Maxine) of New Orleans, Paula Potts of Washington, D.C., and Camille Potts of Charleston; a brother, Dr. Thomas P. Logan of Nashville, Tenn.; 10 grandchildren, Russell Jr. (Paulette), Gregory (Lashon), Richard (Sheranda) and Dianna Campbell, Sylver Logan Sharp, Dana Potts Lucas (Donald) and Michelle, Danielle, Melanie, and Deanna Potts; and five great-grandchildren, Ava, Russell III, Alana, Jessica, Logan and Julian.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in honor of Muriel Logan Potts be sent to the Avery Research Center for African-American History and Culture, 66 George St., Charleston, SC 29424. Additional information is available online at http://www.cofc.edu/avery.