Janie Iline Potts

Potts,Janie Iline born December 3, 1932 past away on June 6, 2014. She was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Leroy Potts, her parents Maybell and Haston Poe, her brothers H.C. Poe and Anthony Poe. She is survived by her 3 sons Gary Potts, Ricky Potts and wife Zondra, and Larry Potts and wife Sonya; seven Grandchildren Amanda Bennett, Andrea Weatherall, Kevin Potts, Wesley Potts, Todd Potts, Zach Potts, Chad Potts; ten great grandchildren; three sisters, Faye Gibbons and husband Joe, Lou Edmonds and husband Gary, and Letta Lauderdale; brother Milton Poe and wife Barbara and a host of neices, nephews, and friends. The Gardener Janie was a gardener. Throughout the Winter, she dreamed of how her garden would look when Spring arrived.She knew if she didn’t have a vision as to where she wanted to go, she would not get there. She knew that her vision would require hard work, but if she didn’t do the work, she would not see the beauty. She would dig her crooked little fingers into the soil which she had enriched with peat and sweat, picking out the little pieces that did not look like garden and throwing them to the side. When Spring was fully in bloom, She was often found tenderly tending to her beautiful plants. No one ever visited her house without getting the tour of her proud flora accomplishment. As much as gardening was a physical job, it's was also her therapy. She talked her plants and they helped her find answers. She had patience. She knew she could not force a seed to grow faster than nature intended, or get someone to do something before they were ready. The garden isn’t made beautiful in one day. She had to deal with things that were totally out of her control. Weather, bugs, weeds - the usual list - every garden, every job, every life, has things that are out of control.Patience pays off. She could do gardening alone, but in the last few years, she realized she needed help - her sons to cart, load, unload - a grandchild or nephew to dig up roots - she enjoyed having people around to share the joy of working her garden. She was thankful. Nature and life are miracles, and being thankful added richness and love to her life. Janie’s reward for gardening can not be measured in time, dollars, or possessions. It's only about love. She did it for love. Love was her reward. Love is all that matters. Love is all that lasts after we are gone, too. Gardening is the perfect metaphor for her life. WE ... were her Garden. rick potts