Lillian Loretta Drewett

“To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life.” – W. Somerset Maugham

Lillian Loretta Potter Drewett, 93, of Kingsport, departed Sunday morning, February 22. She was the second daughter of Ernest and Ida Potter, born November 29, 1932. Miss Lil was a gracious, social woman who was the first to laugh at any opportunity. Lil grew up near Clintwood, Virginia with her sisters Martha (deceased at two), Georgia Fleming Strang (recently deceased), and Marie Potter Mawhinny (deceased). Marie clung to Lil. After graduation, they ventured to Aberdeen, Maryland. Lil worked as a secretary on the military base, where she charmed her officer husband, Glenn Drewett. The family lived in Lafayette, Louisiana, where Lil was involved in PTA, Girl Scouts, Election Commission, and the Oil Field Wives Club.  

The happiest times of her life, she said, were spent with her young children, Al, Fred, and Laura. Lil packed up her family each weekend for fishing, skiing, swimming, and making friends.  

For 20 years at Lafayette’s American Heart Association, Lil planned events, raised funds, matched patients with doctors, and helped the needy. She taught CPR to thousands. Her career achievement was that Lafayette, Louisiana became the safest place in the world to have a heart attack, once all high school seniors were required to know CPR to graduate.

After retirement, Lil returned to the mountains she loved to care for her mother, with her sisters, Vivian Mullins, and Roberta Fleming. In Kingsport, Lil was active at Heritage First Church of God, where she joined the pickle-making and sales team. She excelled at filling shoeboxes with small gifts for missionary distribution. Pastor Tilly continued to visit Miss Lil after his retirement. She asked him if there would be driving in heaven.

For the last several years, she lived at Preston Place Suites. Lil discovered a passion for painting and formed deep ties with Dot and Dearcey.  

Miss Lil loved to read and give many fun, unusual, and colorful gifts to her many nieces, nephews, grand, great, and great-great grand children.