Mecah’s Life as told by his wife Tandra 

Mecah Samsyn Potts was born to Anna Vivian Potts and David Potts at McKeesport Hospital on September 28, 1967. Few people know that his name was to be Micah but was misspelled and that’s why he was called Mike as a child. Baby Mecah was a fighter from birth. He was born with a small purple mark on his shoulder that progressed to an extremely large tumor requiring extensive surgery and numerous skin grafts.  

Mecah attended Clairton High School where he excelled at football (at least that’s what he told me). Mecah went on to play football for the private college, Washington and Jefferson, where he was also a football star (at least that’s what he told me).  

After college, Mecah worked a short time at Sears before finding his real career at the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB). Working at the Clairton State Store, Mecah met Tandra when she was sent there as a temporary manager because his manager was on a month-long tour of Italy. Mecah liked to joke when asked how we met that “she was my manager and sexually harassed me and she still does.” 

Mecah retired from the (PLCB) in April of 2024 after 30 years of service. Mecah was a hard worker. In 1995, Mecah and Tandra started a motorcycle accessory business at Perryopolis Flea Market. He made many friends over 30 years there. I used to ask him why every crazy person there seemed to seek him out. He would say “I really don’t know,” but I know that it was because he had the compassion and patience to listen to their stories and problems even when they made no sense. Mecah had a few hobbies. He loved doing the Sunday Crossword puzzle and was pissed and devastated when the Post Gazette stopped printing and went online.  

Mecah loved washing clothes. He washed 5 or 6 pieces of clothing everyday (I was more than okay with this fetish). Mecah loved walking his bloodhounds Dudley and Honey. You may have noticed that they are both going home with him today because that’s where they truly belong. (No, I didn’t kill them, they have been gone a long time). Mecah always said that Dudley saved his life. He came home from their walk one day and said “I wanna walk but Dudley wants to run.” When a 130-pound bloodhound wants to run, then you run. So, walks turned into runs and Mecah lost 100 pounds. Mecah loved to travel. His favorite place was Nassau, Bahamas, which he visited 28 times. When Mecah was diagnosed I asked what he wanted to do with the time he had left and he wanted to travel more, so off we went.  

The last year of his life he made trips to South Carolina, Punta Cana, Turks and Caicos and his beloved Bahamas. I thank God that he was able to do that. But the thing Mecah was best at was loving ME. There are no words big enough, powerful enough or eloquent enough to convey how much he loved me. There are no words strong enough, long enough, or potent enough to convey how much I loved him. No one is perfect, but for 29 years we were perfect together. Mecah was one of the best people I’ve known; he was strong, gentle, caring, giving, and compassionate, and I know we’ll be together again someday. 

Mecah passed away on October 11, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents, David and Anna Vivian Potts, brothers, Patrick and Kenneth Bell, sister, Nancy Clark, mother-in-law, Viola Pope, and father-in-law, Calvin Pope, Sr.  

Mecah is survived by his wife, Tandra Pope Potts; sister, Theresa Bell; brother-in-law, Calvin Pope, Jr. (Sky); nephews, Kenneth Thompson, Ja’rran Bell; a host of nieces, great nieces, great nephews, extended family and friends.