The late Susan Parker Potter was named the recipient of the 2014 Arts Legacy Award. The honor is bestowed annually by the Alleghany Highlands Arts Council in recognition of individuals who have left a lasting impact on our community through perpetuation of performing arts over the course of their lifetime.
Covington's Mountain View Restaurant at Best eastern was the setting for the three hour dinner and program where numerous speakers memorialized Mrs. Potter before a capacity crowd.
A Covington native, Susan was the daughter of Patsy and O.E.Parker, Jr, sister of Rebecca Hudson and wife of Billy Potter. She was the proud mother of one child, Kaitlyn Potter.
She attended Alleghany High School and Westminster Choir College as well as the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she studied church music with a concentration in voice. In 1984 she won the title of Miss Virginia and was a non-finalist talent winner at Miss America. Her relationship with the Miss Virginia Association continued throughout her lifetime as she judged local, state and national pageants and was a regular performer in the Miss Roanoke Valley pageant and the Miss Virginia Revue.
Locally she was a life-long member of McAllister Memorial Presbyterian Church where she served as Music Director for 17 years. She shared her gift of music freely as a member of the Alleghany Highlands Chorale, the Roanoke Symphony Chorus and Opera Roanoke. She was often featured as a soloist in First Presbyterian Church's "Music On The Corner" and performed in many Arts Council events such as its Madrigal Dinner and numerous Holiday Spectacular 1994, 1995, 2010 and 2011.
Arts Council Executive Director, Tammy Scruggs-Duncan opened the ceremonies with remarks about Mrs. Potter's dedication to sharing her talent and inspiring others. "Since we were young girls our music teacher (previous Arts Legacy honoree Frances Rupert) taught us that if God had blessed us with talent, if was our responsibility to share that gift for a higher purpose. Susan embodied that philosophy and displayed more unselfish dedication than anyone I ever knew. When called upon, she was never too sick, too tired or too busy. She could cram three days of living into a 24 hour period and while her life-time of musical excellence was far too short, it was brimming over, each day, with a joy and heart-felt dedication that has permanently shaped innumerable lives."
Scruggs-Duncan went on, "With regard to the Alleghany Highlands Arts Council, Susan was a long-standing member of the board of directors, serving on the development committee, where she organized and executed Badges for Charity efforts for the Greenbrier Classic. As special events chairman she was critical in organizing, producing and performing in numerous events. In past years she was co-group leader on many of our Broadway Theatre Trips to New York City. But where she had the most influence in the day to day working of this organization was as chief advisor and defender of the Executive Director. A. loyal and trusted friend, Susan shared input on every issue of this organization for the last 20 years. She always had our best interest at heart and she, above all others, covered my back."
The second speaker was Executive Director of the Miss Virginia Association, Mark Schreier of Roanoke. He spoke of Mrs. Potter's generous spirit. "We loved Susan. I could never get over how she gave herself totally to our cause", said Schreier, "The first time I called her she didn't know me from Adam but she jumped right in to help, even bringing others of her family and friends along with her over the years She was like a sister to me."
Mike Fleenor, pastor at McAllister Memorial Presbyterian Church remembered Susan as "inspirational and courageous". Rev. Fleenor referred to Potter's 10 year battle with breast cancer and how it never effected her ability to perform her duties. "I was visiting her in the hospital once and I told the nurse what a great voice Susan had. The nurse asked to hear it and Susan broke into an a' cappella version of "Crazy" that left no doubt in that nurse's mind. Basically, I always thought of Susan as a gift to us and our church. The Greek root of the word gift is charisma and that's what Susan was. She was charisma personified."said Fleenor.
Pearl Miller spoke on behalf of the McAllister Choir. "The Senior Choir shared Susan with so many people in our church, in other churches the community and around the state. Susan gave her all with a smile that would capture everyone's heart.
She lived life to the fullest, never turning down anyone who asked her to sing." Ms. Miller also recalled Potter taking great joy in bringing the choir to the Heart Fund Radiation each year, helping raise money to fight heart disease.
Between each speaker there were video clips of Mrs. Potter, herself, performing various vocal musical numbers from past years.
The final presenter was 2011 Arts Legacy recipient Sandra Minter. "Once upon a time there was a person who was beautiful on the outside and the inside, who loved God, loved music and singing, loved family and friends, loved the beauty of God's world, loved fun and games, in fact, loved all that life had to offer", said Minter. "And she gave back to life all she had to offer and in the process gave many memorable performances, taught choirs and children, added to the beauty and meaning to the worship of God, and furthered the cause of live performance" through many avenues.
"Beginning with her realization that her extraordinary talent was God-given and required of her the biblical reference 'to whom much has been given, much shall be required' Susan was only too happy to give, give, give anytime that she was asked or sensed an opportunity of need. And for such artistry, such beauty of sound, such commitment ... Susan Parker Potter is the 2014 recipient of the Alleghany Highlands Arts Council's Arts Legacy Award."
Mrs. Potter's daughter Kaitlyn accepted the award on her mother's behalf. She said, "My mom was the biggest inspiration in my life. I know, at this point that she would like to thank some people. Frances Rupert, her parents and God. So let us raise our glasses and toast an incredible person. Here's to Susan Parker Potter.". The evening closed with a standing ovation.
The Arts Council accepts nominations for this award year-round. Past recipients of the Legacy Award are Frances Rupert, Ginger Leitch, Sara Lu, Snyder, R. Dean Andrews, Horton Berne and the Virginian Review, Sandra Minter, Nell Fleshman and Arts Council founders; Miss Lily Albert, Mrs. Mary Frances Mays-Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Coxe, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Bell, Mrs. Robert McCaleb, Mr and Mrs. Hubert E. Cox, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Miller, Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Persinger, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Stumpp. |  | Kaitlyn Potter, Susan Parker Potter's daughter, accepts the Arts Legacy award from Alleghany Arts Council executive director, Tammy Scruggs-Duncan.
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