Dr. John Bertrand Lott, Sr.

Dr. John Bertrand Lott, Sr. of Montevallo, passed away on May 4th, 2017 in Birmingham, AL. He was born on June 27, 1933 in Aberdeen, Mississippi. John Lott was the youngest of four children born to Jeffie and Will Lott. His parents were originally from the little hamlet of Kilmichael MS, but the family lived in numerous communities in North Mississippi where John’s father served the Methodist Church as pastor and district superintendent. His brother Bill was also a Methodist minister in the North Mississippi Conference. John was preceded in death by his parents Mrs. Jeffie Elizabeth Forrest Lott and the Reverend William Robert Lott as well as by his three siblings, Frances Lott Sowers (George Sowers) , Martha Provine Bennett (Warren Bennett), and the Reverend William Robert Lott (Ann Ross Reeves Lott). John is survived by his wife Sandra Ward Lott, his children Anna Elizabeth Lott (David Haws), John Bertrand Lott, Jr. (Jane Livingston), and Ward Jeffrey Lott. He is survived by grandchildren: John David Lott Haws, (Anna and Dave), Rowan Bertrand Lott (Bert and Jane), and Mia Livingston (Bert and Jane). His foster grandsons are Mark Gallegos and Christopher Gallegos, who live in Montevallo with Anna and David. He is also survived by sister-in-law Ann Ross Lott (Bill) and by numerous nieces and nephews. These include Carol Sowers, Janet Sowers, Nancy Sowers Lertola,, George Sowers, John Bennett, Bill Bennett, Betty Bennett Cavalucci, Will Lott, III, Ann Wade Lott, and Forrest Lott. John Lott graduated from high school in Columbus, Mississippi and received his bachelor's degree from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi with a double major in English and Math. He went on to study at Vanderbilt University, where he completed a PhD in English with a minor in Philosophy in 1960. In 1959 John Lott moved to Montevallo to assume a position in the English Department of Alabama College. At Montevallo, John Lott met his wife Sandra Ann Ward who joined the Alabama College English faculty in 1960. They were married in 1961 at the Montevallo Methodist Church with John’s father, the Reverend W. R. Lott conducting the ceremony. His brother Rev. W. R. Lott, Jr. was best man. The couple’s three children Anna, Bert, and Ward grew up in the Montevallo community, attended Montevallo High School, and took courses at the University of Montevallo. John was very proud that each eventually followed in their father’s footsteps with distinguished graduate degrees (Anna, PhD.in English, Washington University in St. Louis), (Bert PhD in Classics, Pennsylvania University), (Ward, Ll D, University of Alabama). Dr. John Lott spent his entire teaching and administrative career in Montevallo, taking part in some of the school's most formative and transitional years He was a faculty member and administrator during the crucial years in which Alabama College became the University of Montevallo and during which the student body and curriculum of the school grew and changed dramatically. Beginning as an Assistant Professor of English, John Lott served as English Professor and Chair of the English Department (1962-1980), and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, (1980-1989 ), after which he followed Mrs. Charlotte Blackmon as Director of International/Intercultural Studies. At the time of his retirement in 1995, he had attained the rank of Distinguished Professor of English and International Intercultural Studies. As a faculty member, John taught a variety of courses, including Victorian Literature, Shakespeare, Modern Poetry, World Literature, and Freshman Composition. He also taught courses in Philosophy and Religion. He developed a course in Literature of the Bible which quickly became a favorite with students, and which he later expanded to include Literature of the Bible and Koran. He pioneered an early distance learning Educational Television course in World Literature and he participated in Alabama Humanities Foundation outreach projects such as a series of literary discussions with Alabama judges. These innovative touchstone courses and outreach projects helped to establish his reputation as a master teacher. As Dean, John oversaw revisions of the Core Curriculum, and he later helped coordinate faculty development projects such as Writing Across the Curriculum and Seminars in Nonwestern Literature, History, and Culture. As director of the International Intercultural program at UM, he especially enjoyed enhanced travel opportunities. Over his years at UM, John led study tours to numerous countries in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. In the late 1980's he was awarded a fellowship by the National Council on US Arab Relations to spend a summer in Tunisia. He also participated in a Friendship Force exchange which took him to Moscow and St Petersburg. He was pleased to note that on his retirement he had travlled to over thirty-nine countries. He was a dedicated teacher and scholar. Geoffrey Chaucer’s words “Gladly would he learn and gladly teach” are truly applicable to Dr. John Lott. Throughout his life, John Lott was active in church and civic activities. Over the years, he held numerous leadership roles at the Montevallo Methodist Church, and these continued in retirement. For many years, he was a dedicated teacher of the McMillan “Young Adult Sunday School Class” at the Montevallo Methodist Church, where his impressive knowledge of Biblical and church history were always on display. He frequently spoke to church and civic groups. He regularly led book review sessions with groups such as the Ecumenical Book Group at the Montevallo Presbyterian Church and the Adelante Book Group sponsored by the Montevallo Branch of AAUW. He also served for a number of years as Chair of the Montevallo Historical Commission. He was a dedicated volunteer for Shelby Emergency Assistance, especially with their Twice As Nice project. He was also a faithful volunteer for Montevallo’s Meals on Wheels program. In 2012 John and his wife Sandra were named Montevallo’s Citizens of the Year at the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet. The family would like to thank the staff of Aspire Rehabilitation, the staff of New Beacon Hospice, and Mrs. Tennie Holmes for their invaluable assistance during John’s illness. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 11, at 2:00 p.m., at the Montevallo Methodist Church, officiated by the Reverend Lawton Higgs, Jr., assisted by the Reverend Richard Freeman. Visitation will begin at 12:30 at the Church. Following the memorial service, there will be a graveside burial at the Montevallo City Cemetery. Rockco Funeral Home will direct the services. Memorial gifts may be sent to the Montevallo Methodist Church, PO Box 72, Montevallo, AL 35115 or the University of Montevallo Foundation, UM Station 6215, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, AL 35115.