Ann Potterfield Gregory

Published 6:53 am Saturday, November 24, 2018

Mrs. Catherine Ann Potterfield Gregory, 91, passed away on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 in Williamsburg, Va. with the attentive care and support of Clare Bridge Alzheimer & Dementia of Brookdale Senior Living’s staff and her Hospice Community Care team. Ann was preceded in death by her husband Edmond Brodie Gregory Jr. and her brother, Hirst Thomas Potterfield. She was born in Leesburg, Va., on March 29, 1927, the daughter of Charles Thomas and Marguerite Hirst Potterfield. Ann grew up in Lovettsville, Va. and was the Valedictorian of her class at Lovettsville High School. She attended the College of William and Mary, was a member of the Chi Omega sorority and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English in 1948. She met her future husband Brodie on a blind date arranged by her cousin Betty Sue Potterfield Tyler in Christiansburg, Va., near Virginia Polytechnic Institute. The blind date led to a full night of talking and ended with Brodie borrowing a car to drive Ann back to Williamsburg, stopping on the way to wake his mother in Richmond in the wee hours of the morning to introduce her to the “woman that he was going to marry.”

Following graduation from William & Mary, Ann began her career as a teacher in Hopewell, Va. and married Brodie on August 20, 1949, in Lovettsville, Va. following his graduation from VPI. She and Brodie settled briefly in Suffolk, Va., where their first child, Cathy, was born. Brodie’s career took them to Elizabeth City, NC, where their next two children, Ted and Jan, were born. Ann’s vagabond spirit was revealed as she and Brodie planted roots in various locations throughout their lives in Elizabeth City, NC; Vienna, Purcellville and Leesburg, Va.; Manteo, NC; and Matthews, Va. Ann resumed her teaching career at Hillsboro Elementary School and later at Loudoun Valley High School in Purcellville, Va. once all of the children were in high school.

Following Brodie’s death in 1989, Ann returned to Williamsburg, making the remaining 29 years of her life full and active while immersing herself in volunteer activities, renewing friendships with former college friends and developing new friendships. She volunteered at the Williamsburg Community Hospital and Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center and was a Life Member of the Auxiliary of Sentara WRMC. Ann was a member of the Kingsmill Garden Club and she formalized her love of plants by becoming a certified Master Gardener; combining that with her love of teaching, she became involved in the Roots & Shoots Program in Williamsburg and James City County schools. She was a member of the College of William & Mary Olde Guarde and served on the Olde Guarde Council; she wrote the Class of 1948 note for the Alumni magazine for many years. She was a dedicated member and volunteer of Bruton Parish Church, where she served in many capacities welcoming members and visitors to our community and church.

Ann is survived by her three children: Catherine (Cathy) Gregory Adams and husband Ken, Edmond Brodie (Ted) Gregory and wife Helen, Margaret Janney (Jan) Gregory; grandchildren Beery Adams Jimenez and husband Luis, Catherine Tyler Adams and husband Martin Walsh, Brodie Atwell Adams, Elizabeth Lane Gregory, Brodie Gregory Riordan and husband Tim, Courtland Gregory Lukens and wife Hallie, and William Courtland Lukens; great grandchildren Joaquin (Quino) and Guillermo (Memo) Jimenez, Justice and Nia Fields, Maddox and Paxon Lukens, and Zoey Lukens. She loved spending time with her family and enjoyed following their accomplishments, travels and antics. She will be greatly missed by all of us but has left us with wonderful memories of our time with her and her love for life.

A memorial service will be held at Bruton Parish Church on Saturday, December 8, 2018, at 2 p.m., followed by interment in the churchyard and a reception at the Custis House.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the College of William & Mary (Office of University Advancement, Gift Accounting, PO Box 1693, Williamsburg, VA 23187-1693), the Auxiliary of Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center (via online donation to http://www.auxiliaryswrmc.org/donate/ or via check to the Auxiliary of SWRMC, P. O. Box 6841, Williamsburg, VA 23188-9988) or to Bruton Parish Church (P.O. Box 3520, Williamsburg, VA 23187).