Mary Louise "Lou" Potter's Obituary
Mary Louise “Lou” Potter (née Bryant) passed away peacefully at her home in Roanoke, Virginia on July 29, 2025.
Born October 3, 1931 in Norfolk, Virginia to Jonas Ryland Bryant and Mary Elizabeth Bryant (née Judge), Lou grew up in the Tidewater area. Lou attended college at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, where she studied Architecture and met the love of her life, Alan Lee Potter, whom she married on June 16, 1951. Lou was active in various communities, clubs, and organizations throughout her life, notably the Lake of the Woods community, church, ski team, and volunteer rescue squad, the “Mount Vernon Mogul Mashers,” and the Florida Oceanographic Society. Through her service on the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Lou was instrumental in the restoration of James Madison’s Montpelier, a long-time passion of hers that extended to her continued work with the Montpelier Foundation, the Center for the Constitution, and the Dolley Madison Legacy Committee.
Lou was an avid water skier, snow skier, golfer, traveler, boater, dinner party host, history buff, reader, and art collector. A friend to many, she loved to have fun, ensured those around her had fun, and made whatever part of the world she was in a better place.
Lou’s greatest passion was her family. She was preceded in death by her dear husband, Al Potter, son, Richard Lee Potter, son, Kenneth Stewart Potter, and brother, Jack Bryant.
She is survived by her daughter, Janet Bonner, daughter-in-law, Glenda Potter, David and Kristen Schlee, and sister-in-law, Jane Bryant, beloved grandchildren, Laura and Ian Minster, Stacy and Jason Mercer, Jim and Aileen Bonner, Samantha Potter, Lee and Shelby Potter, and Jordan Potter, and great grandchildren Madelyn (Maddie) Mercer, Phelps Mercer, Ava Potter, and Claire Potter.
A funeral service will take place at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at Lake of the Woods Church,1 Church Ln., Locust Grove, Va. Interment will follow at Laurel Hill Memorial Park.
Condolences may be shared with her family online at foundandsons.com.
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