Paul Potts Obituary

Paul Michael Potts WALTERBORO - Paul Michael Potts, an eight year veteran of the Walterboro Police Department, died Monday evening. He was 32. Paul was born October 5, 1977, in Akron, OH the son of Mary B. Yeager. As a child he was given the love, care and guidance of his devoted grandparents... whom he considered his "second parents"... Kathleen Tatum Yeager and the late Paul Yeager. He graduated from Field High School in Magadore, OH in 1996 and graduated from the University of Akron in 2002. Paul's life was devoted to public service. He was a third generation firefighter, and served with both the City of Walterboro Department of Public Safety and Colleton County Fire and Rescue. Paul was a Corporal with the Police Department, and was known for his outgoing and fun loving disposition. He was a Field Training Officer, an Advanced DUI Instructor, a Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Master Instructor, a Drug Recognition Expert Instructor, and a Traffic Accident and Reconstruction Investigator. Paul was the Officer of the Year in 2007 for the City of Walterboro, and was also a member of the South Carolina Firefighters Association and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association. He was a friend to all, and this world's loss is Heaven's gain. In addition to his mother and his grandmother of Akron, OH, he is survived by his beloved companion Jessica Clark Griffin, and her children, Jaci and Jackson. There are two uncles, Robert and William Yeager of Ohio. Funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 11:00 in the First Baptist Church of Walterboro with Rev. Zane Brown officiating. Interment will take place at a later date in Ohio. Members of the City of Walterboro Department of Public Safety, Colleton County Fire and Rescue, and Walterboro City Council will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6-8 PM at Parker-Rhoden Funeral Home, and a reception will be held immediately following the funeral service on Saturday from 12:30 to 2:30 at the Walterboro Elks Lodge. Memorials may be made to either the Victims Advocate Fund, 242 Hampton Street, Walterboro, SC 29488 or to the Colleton County Animal Shelter, and online condolences may be left for the family at ww.parkerrhodenfuneralhome.com. Parker-Rhoden Funeral Home, 117 Paul Street, Walterboro is in charge of arrangements. Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/deaths