Melisa (Lisa) Potter

Melisa (Lisa) Marie Chase Potter, 61, a resident of Denham Springs, Louisiana, passed away on November 15, 2021.

Lisa was born November 24, 1959 in Ferriday, Louisiana to Dan and Lilly Chase. She attended the Louisiana State School for the Deaf  in her elementary and high school years. She obtained an Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education as an inductee of the Zeta Kappa Epsilon Honor Society at Delgado Community College and completed her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education as an inductee of the Kappa Delta Epsilon and Omicron Delta Epsilon Honor Societies at LSU. She went on to achieve her Master of Science at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland.

After graduating, she taught American Sign Language to hearing students at Massaponax High School in Fredericksburg, VA for one year prior to moving back home to Louisiana to teach at Louisiana School for the Deaf from 2005-2015. In 2018, she joined the Bianca Law Firm as a legal assistant and Deaf Liaison.

Lisa was a passionate advocate for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. She was appointed to the Louisiana Hearing Impaired Infants Advisory Council by Governor Foster in 2001 as well as the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf by Governor Bel Edwards in 2017.

Lisa’s favorite quote was “Live, Laugh, & Love.” She was a devoted “Yorkie Mom” to her 7 Yorkshire Terrier pups: Bear, Rugrat, Pinkie, Dan, Lilly, Asher, and Oreo as well as one stray kitten, Sweetheart, who melted her heart.  She enjoyed spending her time traveling to new places and learning the craft of embroidery. She once danced the night away as the Queen of the Deaf Mardi Gras Ball for the Krewe of Dauphine in 1994!

Lisa is survived by her husband, Gary J. Potter, her sons, Jason J. Blakeney and Jeremy C. Blakeney (Lisa Dodge), sister, Marty C. Bryant (Kevin), granddaughter, Jade E. Blakeney, (David) and great grandchildren, Christopher G. and Erin E. Key and many nieces and nephews as well as great nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents Dan and Lilly Chase, grandparents Frank and Emma Waltman and Jesse Ben and Audrey Chase.

Visitation will be at Resthaven Gardens on Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, La. from 1:30 - 2:30.  The funeral service will be at 2:30 with Pastor John Lovas, following with a graveside service. A reception will follow at the home of Gary Potter located at 26530 Walker South Rd., Denham Springs, La. 70726.  Contact person for the reception is Jill ODonnell (text 225-284-3204).

Pallbearers will be Jeremy Blakeney (son), Jake, Josh, and Jared Causey (nephews), Kevin Bryant (brother-in-law), and David Potter (brother-in-law).

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave  personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com.