US Army Private Jerome Clay Potts was born in Irvine, Kentucky on February 17, 1923, the son of Harold Kelly Potts (1900-1957) and Mary Lynda Lynch (1901-1999). His father supported his family as a railroad worker for the L&N Railroad Company from which he retired. He began with the company prior to 1920 in Irvine, Kentucky and by 1940 was an accountant with the railroad while his mother Addie K. was a bookkeeper for a commercial bank, also in Irvine. Sometime around 1941, the L&N company transferred Harold to Pensacola, Florida where he took the position of a clerk. The family home at the time was established at 700 East Gregory Street where even Jerome was hired as a L&N carpenter's helper.
But Jerome's time with the L&N railroad company was short lived because of America's needs for soldiers as WWII moved into high gear. Jerome would enlist on January 14, 1943 and was sent to Camp Blanding, Florida for processing and orientation. When completed, he was sent to basic training before being assigned to the HQ Company of the 3rd Battalion with the 673rd Infantry Regiment attached to the 376th Infantry Division. During this period of time, he would marry Mary Johanna "Mary Jo" Burgess (1925-1994) in Pensacola. She had graduated from Pensacola High School in May 1943 after Jerome had already enlisted in the Army. She was the daughter of Burl Robinson Burgess (1893-1952) and Ervie Ella Davis (1892-1970). However, once again there's very documentation as yet of this. She was pass away on October 8, 1994, after having an illustrious career as an art teacher in Escambia County.
At this point, Jerome's military history gets a little confusing. His tombstone lists him in the 673rd Infantry regiment of which there is no such regiment listed. The same holds true for the 376th Infantry Division. I'm sure there's an explanation and perhaps someone in the family will be able to bring that to light. We do know that he died in service to his country in France on September 15, 1945, after the war was already over. His death is listed as "DNB" or "death non battle." This type of death can range from disease, plane crashes, accidents, and such. Many of them during this period involved automobile accidents in military jeeps.
Jerome was brought home from overseas and buried in the Richmond Cemetery in Richmond, Kentucky. However, his parents and sister were all buried in Bayview Cemetery.
Wife Mary Johanna Burgess Potts and
brother Burl R. Burgess Jr.
Wife Mary Johanna Burgess (1925-1994)
Pensacola High School, Class of 1943
Wife Pensacola News Journal
10-11-1994
10-27-1920 Parents Marriage Article, Richmond, KY
Jerome Clay Potts with parents in Irvine, KY in 1922
Jerome Clay Potts being held
in 1923 by mother and aunt
Jerome Clay Potts with parents 1911
Richmond Cemetery, Richmond, Kentucky
Headstone Application 1949
Military Registration Card 1942
Father Harold Kelly Potts, 1918,
VMI Institute, Lexington, VA
Father Harold Kelly Potts, in later life
Mother Mary Lynda Kelley Potts (1900-1957)
Mother Pensacola News
Journal 12-10-1999
Sister Frances Ann Potts
Wilson (1927-2019)
Grandfather James Clay
Potts (1870-1912)
Grandmother Addie May Kelley Potts c1900 (1879-1971) - Addie Kelley Potts appears in records as both "Missie" and "Addie." Here's why: Her parents decided to let her choose her own name. They called her "Missie" until her twelfth birthday. On her birthday, she selected the name "Addie"--a popular girl's name of the day. She was my great grandmother, and told this story often. She married James Clay Potts, whom she met at the age of 14. James Clay was the new school teacher in the area, and Addie was in the highest form of the class at that time. The family story goes that he fell in love with her, went to her father and told her that he would "wait for her to grow up" and took a teaching post in another school. They married when she was nineteen. She was a petite, and very beautiful woman. She lived in large house on Main Street, in Irvine, Kentucky, for 68 years. All five of her grandchildren were born in that house. She was very active in the First Christian Church of Irvine.
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