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Cornelius News

Former Cornelius Mayor Nannie Potts to be honored this month

Nannie H. Potts

Jan. 6. Unity in Community North Mecklenburg, Torrence Chapel AME Zion Church and Davidson Presbyterian Church are celebrating the late Nannie Potts and you are invited.

The groups are holding a Martin Luther King Jr. day celebration to honor Potts, the first and only Black mayor of Cornelius.

Potts was elected to the Cornelius Town Board in 1980, and became mayor pro tem because she got the most votes. When Mayor Wesley Rood suddenly quit, Nannie became mayor, serving from 1982-1983. She didn’t want to run for mayor again, but was elected as a commissioner.

Potts, who was a devoted church worker at Torrence Chapel AME Zion and community pillar, grew up on a farm near Hoke Lumber in Davidson.

She taught social sciences is Mecklenburg County after college and retired from teaching in Iredell County. She taught for over thirty years, first at Torrence Lytle High School, her alma mater.

Potts passed Nov. 9, 2018, at age 80. The town named a road after her. 

The groups will honor Potts on Sunday, Jan. 15, during a community dinner and fellowship, 1-2 pm, and a program  2:30-4 pm.

The program features The Strollers, food, music and speakers.

Free to attend at Torrence Chapel AME Zion Church, 21517 Torrence Chapel Rd., Cornelius.

Questions?  Pam Jones: email uicnmeck@gmail.com with ‘Nannie Potts” in the subject line or call 704-439-0127.