Ann Poteet, Devoted Friend and Lover of Maine, Remembered at 86

Ann Poteet, whose life was marked by deep friendships, a passion for tennis and bridge, and an enduring affection for the state of Maine, died on July 25, 2026. She was 86.

Born on Aug. 18, 1939, in Richmond, Virginia, Poteet was the daughter of Edward and Anna Townsend Rawlings. She spent her childhood moving between Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Culpeper, Virginia, before graduating from Culpeper High School in 1957. She went on to attend American University in Washington, D.C., where she joined the Alpha Chi Omega sorority and earned a degree in communications in 1961.

Poteet met her future husband, James Poteet, on a tennis court in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The couple married in 1991 and later became co-founders of The Racquet Tennis Center in New Smyrna Beach. Following their marriage, they split their retirement years between Port Orange, Florida, and South Portland, Maine.

Maine held a special place in Poteet's heart. She often told family and friends, "I love Florida dearly, but my heart will always be in Maine."

Tennis and bridge were central to her daily life. Poteet and her husband achieved the rank of Life Masters in Bridge in April 2007, reaching the milestone in only two and a half years of competitive play. The couple traveled extensively across the United States to participate in duplicate bridge tournaments. They were also avid sports fans, following the New England Patriots, the Chicago Cubs, and the Boston Red Sox.

Poteet was a self-taught cross-stitch artist who created works for family and friends in her spare time. Her love of reading came from her mother, Anna Townsend Rawlings, a published author and librarian. Poteet and her husband were known for reading two to three books a week.

When reflecting on her own talents, Poteet often said that she valued most her ability to be "a good and loyal friend." She worked hard to maintain her many friendships throughout her life.

She was predeceased by her parents, her stepfather, Edgar O. Willis Jr., and her former husband, Bruce B. Daniels of Cape Elizabeth. She is survived by her sister, Brokie Partington, and her husband David, of Greensboro, North Carolina; her stepdaughter, Debbie Jones, and her husband John, of Scarborough; and her goddaughter, Tracey Townsend Long, and her husband Craig, of Davis, California.

A burial service took place at Riverside Cemetery in Cape Elizabeth.