Commissioner Thurman Ross remembers Nannie Potts as Mayor Washam looks on

Aug. 27. By Dave Yochum. As a deer bolted from one side of Nannie Potts Lane to the other, town officials and members and friends of the Potts family dedicated Cornelius’ newest road, one that will ultimately help connect Hwy 21 to Hwy 115/Main Street, south of Catawba Avenue.

The road is named for the first female African American mayor of Cornelius.

Nannie received Business Today’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Town Commissioner Thurman Ross said the late civic leader was his mentor. Other politicians said she was the go-to person when they were considering their first run for public office.

NC Rep. Chaz Beasley said she was a “true trailblazer” in Mecklenburg County.

Potts was elected to the Town Board in 1980, and became mayor pro team because she got the most votes. When Mayor Wesley Rood suddenly quit, Nannie became mayor, serving from 1982-1983. She didn’t want to run for mayor again, but was elected as a commissioner.

“Thank you for sharing her,” Ross told members of the Potts family.

Mickey Potts, her husband, said she was a non-stop community servant. In addition to starting an after-school reading program for at-risk kids, she was a faithful member and church lady at Torrence Chapel AME Zion as well as well as a teacher in Iredell County schools.

At the end of the ceremony dozens of cars containing members of the Potts family, friends, police and fire fighters joined in a parade down the new road. Mayor Woody Washam waved and greeted each one as they passed.

Mickey Potts, the late mayor’s husband, addresses dedication ceremony