Rosemary Wood Potter, 75, of Memphis, Tennessee, loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, passed peacefully from this life into the loving arms of the Lord on March 18, 2024. Rosemary was born on December 9, 1948 to the late Charles Rowe Wood and Rose Griffin Wood. Rosemary graduated from Southwestern at Memphis (Rhodes College), where she was chosen Miss Southwestern of 1970 and served as President of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. After graduation, she was hired by First National Bank of Memphis (First Horizon Bank) as a management trainee and rose in the ranks due to her vivacious personality, rollicking sense of humor, quick wit, and attention to detail. In 1973, she was appointed as its first female branch manager. Later, she was appointed as its first female Personnel Director, but missing regular contact with the public she soon moved to Private Client Services, where she served her customers for many years. She was later Senior Vice President and Private Banker at Regions Bank. In 2007, she was selected by Memphis Woman Magazine to be one of "50 Women Who Make a Difference". Rosemary retired in 2008 to take care of her husband Mike, who was seriously ill at the time, until his recovery. Rosemary was a true servant leader. She served on many non-profit boards, including the Exchange Club, Room in the Inn, and Wesley Housing Advisory Board. She was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church where she served as Chair of Finance and was involved in many of its ministries, including a monthly Manna on Monday food ministry and Room in the Inn ministry to the unhoused one night each week during the winter months, often
spending the night at the church to care for the overnight guests. Her caring heart knew no boundaries. Rosemary is survived by her loving husband of 51 years, Mike Potter; two sons, David (Stephanie) Potter and Jeff (Leslie) Potter; brother, Chuck Wood; sister and brother in law,
Rebecca and Fred Gerendasy; grandsons, Finnegan and Sullivan Potter; niece, Taylor Wood Kroenig; and nephews, Sam Wood and Sam, Tom, and Dan Gerendasy.
Visitation will be 12 noon on Saturday, March 30 until the service begins at 1 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1738 Galloway Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee, with interment at 2:30 p.m. at Elmwood Historic Cemetery, 824 S. Dudley, Memphis,Tennessee.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Rosemary's memory be made to Room in the Inn – Memphis (www.ritimemphis.org), to Trinity United Methodist Church, or to the charity of the donor's choice.