Juanita Poteat Newton

Juanita Poteat Newton, age 77 of Rutherfordton, died Wednesday, October 6, 2021, at her home. Until recently, Juanita had been a longtime resident of Forest City.  She was born on July 15, 1944, in Boydton, Virginia and was the daughter of the late Oliver Clinton Poteat and Violet Jones Poteat. 

She was graduate of Cool Springs High School and a member of the First Baptist Church of Forest City where she enjoyed teaching Sunday School.  Juanita enjoyed many civic and community projects through her membership in the Pilot Club of Rutherford County and working with the annual Lights of Love project.  

Her professional career included her work with First Federal Savings & Loan Association where she served on the Board of Directors.  Following the merger of First Federal with Centura Bank, she continued working and retired as Vice-President of the Forest City Branch with 39 years service. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Johnny Lee Newton who died in 2017.  She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and sister and her greatest joy was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. 

Survivors include her daughter, Dawn Newton Gadd and husband Raymond of Chattanooga, TN, her sons, Russ Newton and wife Penny of Rutherfordton, and Vic Newton and wife Jenny of Asheville, her brothers, Ray Poteat of Forest City, George “G.L.” Poteat of Dallas, NC, and Gary Poteat and wife Faye of Rutherfordton.  Her beloved grandchildren, Ashley Gadd Simpson and husband Bart, Lindsay Gadd, David Gadd, Leah Gadd, Haley Newton Fenner and husband Mason, Holly Newton, Maggie Gadd, Emma Newton, Heidi Newton, Cade Newton, Hannah Newton and Yates Newton, her great-grandchildren, Crew Simpson, Cove Simpson, Cora Simpson and Sammy Itodo. 

The funeral service will be held at 11 o’clock Saturday, October 9, 2021, at the First Baptist Church of Forest City with the Reverend Dr. Garin Hill officiating. Interment will follow in the Robertson Creek Free Will Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends following the service at the cemetery. For the safety of those attending, the family respectfully request that masks and social distancing be observed.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 211 West Main Street, Forest City, North Carolina 28043 or Hospice of The Carolina Foothills, Post Office Box 336, Forest City, North Carolina 28043.

The family will be at her home on Hunters Trace in Rutherfordton. 

The Padgett and King Mortuary & Crematory is in charge of arrangements and an online guest registry is available at www.padgettking. com

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.