Leona E. Phipps-Potter peacefully passed away on Thursday, Aug. 1, at age 85. Leona E. Phipps-Potter was born on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands on July 12, 1939. She grew up in Frenchtown in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Growing up, Leona E. Phipps-Potter played in a softball league and was very well known throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands as the best who played her position as a softball pitcher. She was also good at track and field.
She left St. Thomas, USVI, at the tender age of 23 to relocate to New York City for a better life during which she again met up with my father, Carl L Potter Sr. They got married and have been married for over 60 years. Despite all the many challenges they faced in life, surviving and being married in New York City, they stayed bonded together until death do us part, my father also passed away on Sept. 15, 2023.
In 1998, both my father and mother retired and relocated to Palm Coast, Fla., from New York City. My mother and father both lived a blessed life and often loved to travel frequently on cruises throughout North America.
Both of their spiritual bonds were so strong that my mother decided to let the angels take her on Aug. 1, 2024, to be with her lovely husband.
She was predeceased by her lovely husband, Carl L Potter Sr. of 60 plus years of marriage on Sept. 15, 2023, her mother, Maria Herbert Petersen; father, Cyril Shine Petersen, brothers: Lubin Phipps, Teddy Phipps, Roy Petersen and Wilfred Phipps; sisters: Shirley Petersen and Juta LaMotta; and sister-in-law, Clarice McGrigor.
Leona E. Phipps-Potter is survived by her only son, Carl L. Potter Jr.; daughter, Beverly Potter; daughter-in-law, Maureen M. Wheeler; her only sister left, Karen Petersen. Leona E. Phipps-Potter; and sisters-in-law: Linda Chrichlow and Alminia Wescott.
Mrs. Leona E. Phipps-Potter is also survived by nieces: Denise LaMotta, Jean Phipps, Fay Petersen, Michelle Phipps, Arlene Phipps, Fay Petersen, Fern Petersen, Felicia Petersen and Gwenette Phipps-Harrigan; nephews: Robbie Phipps, Keith LaMotta, Glenn LaMotta, Clinton Phipps, Edger Phipps, Debbie LaMotta, Lubin Phipps Jr., Melbourne Phipps and John LaMotta.
Other survivors include special friends: Ursula Issac, Danny Issac, Violet Honeyghan, Sidney Honeyghan, Lilieth Vaz, Sheila Ungert, Rolf Ungert, and Lillian Chandler and her husband; and the Grenadian Association members; as well as close family friends: Jose Dones and his wife, Kimberly Phillips.
A viewing will take place at 10 a.m. followed by a Memorial Service, at 11 a.m., Monday, Aug. 19, at Clymer Funeral Home and Cremations, 39 Old Kings Rd. N, Palm Coast, FL 32137. Raphael Camilo, the chaplain from Gentiva Hospice, will be doing the Memorial Service.
