Obituary of Wesley Potter

Flint, Michigan -- Wesley Raymond Potter, went home to be with the Lord on January 10, 2010. He was a millionaire. Born on October 25, 1923 he was the oldest of four children who learned the value of commitment and hard work on a farm in western New York. At the persistent invitation of the the local grocer, Wesley and his family attended a church service where he heard the truth of the gospel when he was ten years old. Believing that Christ, alone, bore all sin in His body on the Cross, that He rose from the dead three days later, and that He now sits in Heaven interceding for His own - Wesley placed his faith in an all-sufficient Savior. Wesley earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Houghton College and a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he was taught to passionately preach the truth that had changed his life. He was later honored with a Doctor of Divinity degree from Maranatha Baptist Bible College - a school that was close to his heart. God used Wesley during his eighty-six years on earth to serve as a pastor in many churches throughout Illinois. Wesley was an assistant pastor at First Baptist Church of Danville. He began Fowler Avenue Baptist church. He pastored Bethel Baptist of Georgetown, East Park Baptist of Decatur, First Baptist of Palos Hills, Calvary Baptist of Chilocothe, and he helped plant Maranatha Baptist in Vernon Hills. He took short-term mission trips, directed summer camps, preached weddings and funerals, made thousands of hospital calls and home visits, and filled the pulpit for hundreds of pastors around the country. Apart from his salvation, Wesley considered his family to be his greatest joy. He married Cecile Pennington on April 14, 1962, and together they raised three children who followed their father into full-time Christian work. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Leora; his first wife, Medora (Whitlock); his son, Vernon; and his brother, Leneal. He is survived by his wife of forty-seven years, Cecile, of Flint, MI; his children, David and Jean (Foster) of Pecs, Hungary, Grace and Don (Albright) of Flint, MI, and Faith and Randy (White) of Allen Park, MI. He leaves behind 14 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren whose desire it is to serve the Lord. Also surviving are brother Donald Potter of Allegany, NY; sister, Janet and Philip Halladay of Great Valley, NY; and many nieces and nephews. As Wesley so often said, he was a millionaire, but not because of any money in his pockets. He was wealthy because of God's rich blessing in his life. Visitation Thursday, Janaury 14, 2010 from 2-5 PM at Maranatha Baptist Church, 3408 Miller Rd., Flint, MI. Funeral to follow at 7 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to the Nehemiah Fund at Maranatha Baptist Church. Funeral services will also be 2 PM Saturday, January 16, 2010 at Allegany Baptist Church, 3236 Maple Ave., Allegany, NY. Interment in Allegany Cemetery. Visitation will be 12- 2 PM Saturday at the church. Local funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Casey, Halwig and Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 W. State Road.