Harrel Potter
BELZONI — Funeral services for Harrel Burnon Potter, 81, of Belzoni, will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, at First Baptist Church, Belzoni. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m., with the services to follow. He passed away Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, at home, after a long illness. Interment will be at Belzoni City Cemetery, under the direction of Mortimer Funeral Home, Belzoni.
Harrel Burnon Potter was born March 1,1938, in Leflore County, to Kearney and Burnie Potter.
Harrel was born in Swiftown, the oldest of six children. After graduation from Greenwood High School, he married Rose Blount, of Sidon, and moved to Belzoni. Over the years, he built an impressive business. Starting out with grocery stores, he eventually added catfish farming to his resume, an industry he loved. The proudest moment of his professional life was being named Catfish Farmer of the Year. He was a member of the JayCees, on the board of Guaranty Bank & Trust, and served as president of Delta Pride. He often said his work was his hobby. Harrel was a true gentlemen, a devoted husband and a proud parent of two daughters, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His generosity and support of local organizations will always be remembered.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Shirley Potter Holmes; and brothers, Mac Potter and Rickey Potter.
He is survived by two sisters, Barbara (Earl) Hoke, of Belzoni, and Sandra (Otis) Briggs, of Wayside; the love of his life for 62 years, Rose Lanelle Potter; two daughters, Tamra (Glenn) Helms, of Belzoni, and Ann Potter, of Saint Petersburg, Florida; three grandchildren, Austin (Philip) Gustin-Helms, of Saint Petersburg, Florida, Chelsea (Bryan) Burge, of Inverness, and Ethan Helms, of Nashville; and to his delight, two great-grandchildren, Hannah Rose Burge and Thomas James Burge, of Inverness.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to Humphreys Academy, P.O. Box 179, Belzoni, MS 39038, or Belzoni City Cemetery, 506 Sharkey Street, Belzoni, MS 39038, or a charity of your choice.
