Greensboro United Church of Christ Moderator Paul Fixx presents a certificate to Bronwyn Potter honoring her 63 years as church music director. Ms. Potter started her career behind the church’s organ in 1946 and concluded it in 2009. “It’s been a wonderful ride,” Ms. Potter told those gathered to honor her. That ride is far from over, Ms. Potter suggested, saying she hopes to keep up with her great-aunt Martha Reese, who lived to be 104 years old. Photos by Joseph Gresser
GREENSBORO — The Social Security system allows a person to take early retirement at age 62. Bronwyn Potter, scorning the easy road, chose to retire last year after 63 years on the job as music director of the Greensboro United Church of Christ.
To celebrate Ms. Potter’s years of musical service, more than 60 parishioners and other well-wishers gathered at the church’s Fellowship Hall Sunday afternoon to raise their voices in song and speech.
Ms. Potter, of course, had the place of honor, seated in a chair that looked far more comfortable than the organ bench in the church’s sanctuary.
Judy Dales, who acted as master of ceremonies for the event, told Ms. Potter that the congregation wants “to let her know how much we appreciate her years of service and how much she is loved.” According to Ms. Dales, Ms. Potter was not trained as an organist, but began her musical life as a singer. Her career in the New York City area was beginning to take off when she came for a visit to Greensboro and stayed.
According to the musical biography sung by parishioners to the Welsh tune “Llangloffan:”
She was a real flat-lander
Come here to entertain.
Two lovely weeks in summer,
With ne’er a drop of rain.
She found the village charming,
The locals friendly too.
A young man took her fancy,
And soon she said, “I do.”
The song goes on to relate how Ms. Potter one day chanced to sit down at the organ, thus sealing her professional fate.
In addition to playing for services, Ms. Potter directed the church choir, which Ms. Dales said was a particularly challenging task because she
Bronwyn Potter can’t resist conducting her friends as they serenade her with a chorus of “For she’s a jolly good lady.” Ms. Potter’s direction was as crisp and clear as ever, and she left no stragglers on the way to the song’s stirring conclusion.
never knew if she would have a dozen or only three singers to work with.
Ms. Dales said Ms. Potter had great influence on choir members, ministers, church boards, church secretaries and the congregation as a whole. She described how she could be counted on to be at her seat in any weather.
Now, Ms. Dales told congregants “if it’s 20 below zero and the wind is howling, she can choose to remain in bed on Sunday.”
Ms. Dales was followed by church moderator Paul Fixx, who presented Ms. Potter with a certificate of appreciation. Minister Anthony Acheson showed off a plaque honoring Ms. Potter for serving, “with skill, distinction and grace.”
Mr. Potter hefted it and returned the plaque to Mr. Acheson, who said it will be mounted in the church as soon as it can be decided where it should go.
There is no question about where the quilt presented to Ms. Potter by Jan Travers and Ann Harbison will go. Ms. Travers confided that word has reached many in the community that Ms. Potter’s house can get chilly in the winter.
Ms. Potter’s many admirers took to the microphone, each in turn, to tell how her music affected their lives. The tributes included a stirring rendition of a patriotic song Ms. Potter taught students at Greensboro Elementary School once upon a time.
The afternoon concluded with a beautiful cake emblazoned with a Welsh dragon and an inscription in the Welsh language to honor Ms. Potter’s proud heritage.
The cake was quickly consumed, but not before all joined in a rousing chorus of “For she’s a jolly good lady.” Ms. Potter beamed and then briskly began to conduct her makeshift choir.
Towns 
