Joan Hamman Potts

Joan Hamman Potts (Age 87), of Williamsburg, VA, formerly of Vienna, VA, passed away peacefully at home on September 25, 2019. Joan was born August 28th, 1932 in Hinton, Iowa. She was raised in Moorhead, Iowa by her parents, Clifford and Mae Hamman on their family farm. Joan was a true middle child with two older brothers, two older sisters, two younger brothers, and two younger sisters, or as her siblings said, “four boys, four girls and Joan.” Along with her siblings, she attended a “country school”, a one room school house. She enjoyed school and after graduating from Moorhead High School and doing some coursework, she began teaching at one of the area’s country schools.

She had an adventurous spirit which led her to California where she received her bachelor’s degree from Cal State Long Beach and taught elementary school. Her adventures took her to Alaska where she continued to teach and where she met her future husband, Walter Rankin Potts, who was serving in the U.S. Army. She decided to forego her teaching assignment in Japan in order to follow her heart and marry.

Joan and Walter made their home in Vienna, Virginia, where they lived for over fifty years and where they raised their daughters, Lisa and Laura. For many years, Joan stayed home to care for her children. A talented seamstress, she sewed most of their clothes, being sure to personalize the outfits for each daughter. A creative soul, she knitted sweaters, made holiday decorations, and enjoyed starting and maintaining family holiday traditions.

With her daughters growing up, Joan started a second career at the Central Intelligence Agency. On one occasion, while representing the agency on a recruiting trip to M.I.T., she was met by student protestors. She kept a news clipping of the event, somewhat tickled by the fact that she was on the receiving end of a protest.

Joan was a lifelong learner who placed great value upon education. Throughout her life she studied, took classes, and was a keen reader. She believed in the value of a college education; not as an opportunity for career advancement but as an opportunity for gaining knowledge…learning for the sake of learning and growth.

Among other things, she enjoyed crisp autumn weather, getting lost in a good book, freshly baked homemade bread, ice skating, a glass of wine with friends, talking to her sisters, snowy days, spending time with her grandchildren, crossword puzzles, sled rides, Halloween, a good sense of humor, and visiting new places.

Joan is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Walter R. Potts; daughters Lisa Jobe (Jared) of Williamsburg, and Laura (Brian Tollie) of Springfield, Virginia; her grandsons, James and Jeffrey Jobe of Williamsburg; a step-granddaughter, Jocelyn Sams (Matt) of Charlotte; and four step-great grandchildren (Jason, Chase, Taylor and Sophia). She is also survived by three sisters, Agnes Olson, Patricia Thompson, and Elizabeth Brotherton; and many nieces and nephews. Joan is preceded in death by her parents, Francis “Clifford” and Mae (Fokken) Hamman as well as her siblings; Donald Hamman, Robert Hamman, Eleanor DeLance, David Hamman, and Vincent Hamman.

A service will be held at 11:00am on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Road, Williamsburg, Virginia. The inurnment service will be held in Quantico, Virginia Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 1:00pm.

Donations may be made in Joan's name to The Little Sisters of the Poor, 2875 South James Drive, New Berlin, WI 53151 (www.littlesistersofthepoor.org). Online condolences for the family may be shared at www.nelsenwilliamsburg.com.