Joan Potts Dean

Joan Potts Dean, age 87, a resident of Columbia, TN passed away on April 2, 2022.

Joan was born March 24, 1935, in Lawrenceburg, TN as the oldest of two children born to Bessie Mae Wilbanks Potts and William Samuel Potts.

Joan graduated in 1954 from Lawrenceburg County High School. She attended Columbia Business School in Columbia. She went on to get her cosmetology license and open her own salon in Columbia. She had a second career in property management with the Blackstone Group where she managed several properties in Columbia, and also Nashville, TN.

She retired in Columbia in 2005, which is where she lived the remainder of her life. She had many hobbies and interests over the years.  She was an avid collector of antiques that she loved to restore.  She also loved interior design and floral design. Her positive spirit touched everyone who knew her.  Joan always had a smile to share with everyone that she met.

Joan was preceded in death by her son, Paul Douglas Dean, her brother James Kenneth Potts, her mother Bessie Mae Wilbanks Potts and father William Samuel Potts, nephew James William (Jimmy) Potts, former husband Waylan Cheek Dean, her brothers-in-law, Thomas Ashton, William (Billy) Dean, Norman Dean, William Inman and Henry Graham, and by sisters-in-law, Norma Lee Ashton, Doris Inman and Ann Graham, nephew Eddie Inman.

She is survived by her three children, Teresa Dean of Columbia, Lisa Dean of Franklin, and Chuck (Tracy) Dean of Columbia, and sisters-in-laws Conita Coe Potts of Lewisburg, TN, Amelia Parks Dean of Columbia, and Jewell Dean of Columbia.  She is also survived by her three grandchildren, Bentley Dean of Nashville, TN, Emily Dean of Chattanooga, TN and Andrew (Andy Dean) of Arlington, VA.

Her nieces and nephews are Thomas (Nedra) Ashton, Houston, TX, Tim Ashton, Denham Springs, LA; David (Susan) Ashton, Austin, TX; Brenda Graham McGrath, Knoxville; Ken (Rowena) Graham, Franklin; Allison (Phil) Dean Love, and Kim Potts (Jeff) McKnight.

Visitation will be Thursday, April 7 from 4pm-8pm at Heritage Funeral Home in Columbia.  The funeral will be held on Friday, April 8 at 11am with visitation starting at 10am at the funeral home. The graveside service will be held immediately following at Polk Memorial Gardens.  David Craig will officiate the services.

Pallbearers will be Bentley Dean, Andrew (Andy) Dean, Jonathan Fowler, Ken Graham, Phil Love and Keith Wilbanks.

Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements. The Family would also like to thank Compassus Hospice of Columbia, TN for all of the amazing care and support they provided their mom and their family during this time.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Compassus Living Foundation , 503 N. Euclid Avenue, Suite 9E, Bay City, MI 48706  or Alzheimer’s Tennessee , 5801 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919.