MARY CARMEL’S LIGHT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Eva Potts, President & Co-founder of Mary Carmel’s Light, has an impressive background in human services, specifically advocating for individuals with a dual diagnosis of developmental disabilities and mental health illnesses. Her career includes roles such as Director of Operations for a private provider agency and Director of a 5-Star preschool for Easter Seals/United Cerebral Palsy, where she focused on aligning individuals with proper healthcare, educational services, and vocational rehabilitation. Eva also has extensive experience in property management and holds a NC Broker’s License. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Eva took on the responsibility of being the caregiver for her parents as they faced health challenges. Partnering with her brother Kevin Potts, she served as a primary caregiver for their mother, Mary Carmel, who battled Charles Bonnet Syndrome until her passing in 2020. Motivated by the strength and resilience demonstrated by their mother during her struggle with CBS, Eva and Kevin decided to honor her memory by founding Mary Carmel’s Light. The organization aims to raise awareness and provide education about Charles Bonnet Syndrome to both the medical community and the general public. Despite Eva’s battle with breast cancer, she and Kevin continued their nonprofit work, hosting support groups, advocating for those with CBS, and managing a crisis intervention hotline.Eva is married to Dr. Jimmy Watkins of Wingate University. She has three amazing bonus children and five beautiful grandchildren. Her personal and professional experiences have undoubtedly shaped her commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of individuals facing health challenges, particularly those affected by Charles Bonnet Syndrome.
Kevin Potts, Vice President & Co-founder of Mary Carmel’s Light, has spent a career in the music and entertainment business. Eventually leading to work in artist management and various entertainment media endeavors. A pause in that career to give care to his blind mother with the help of his sister, Eva Potts Watkins, is what lead to the discovery of the need for Awareness of Charles Bonnet Syndrome. Our Mother lost sight in Life and dealt with very negative CBS “episodes”. Our difficulty discovering, understanding and treating Charles Bonnet Syndrome for our Mother is why Eva, with a little help from me, started Mary Carmel’s Light after her passing. Now Mom’s spirit will be helping others understand and cope with CBS to make it easier for them than it was for her.
Sharelle Quick, Secretary of Mary Carmel’s Light, is an outstanding professional deeply immersed in the realms of real estate,zoning, construction, and development. Sharelle’s journey has woven a tapestry of expertise,capturing the intricate details of county and municipality standards and procedures.But what truly sets Sharelle apart is her unwavering commitment to helping others. She goes beyond the call of duty for her clients and colleagues, establishing not just professional connections but genuine friendships. Sharelle’s genuine willingness to prioritize others’ needshas made her a trusted, reliable resource, and a cherished friend to many.Beyond her wealth of professional knowledge, Sharelle’s proactive nature shines brightly. Faced with a question or challenge, she doesn’t settle for what she already knows. Instead, Sharelle takes the reins, diving into thorough research and analysis to provide comprehensive assistance. Her dedication to continuous learning and creative problem-solving make her an invaluable asset to everyone fortunate enough to know her.Sharelle’s support extends beyond the professional realm. She actively fosters a collaborative environment, extending a helping hand and sharing her wealth of knowledge with others.Whether guiding clients through complex real estate transactions or aiding fellow professionals in navigating zoning regulations, Sharelle’s commitment to making a positive impact on hercommunity is unmistakable.Her profound understanding of real estate, zoning, and development is not just a skill—it’s a quality that places Sharelle in a position of trust and respect within the industry. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and her adept navigation of complex matters make her a beacon of reliability and proficiency in everything she undertakes. In Sharelle, you’ll find not just a seasoned professional but a true ally dedicated to the success and well-being of those around her.
Kenneth M. Ellis Educator, Scenographer, Art Director. Ken is an artist and educator who for the past twenty years taught at the collegiate level at several prominent universities including Louisiana State University, University of Texas Arlington, and most recently at Western Michigan University. In the decades prior to being an educator, Ken was a professional designer, art director, and props artisan working in Hollywood. His interest in and engagement with Charles Bonnet Syndrome and Mary Carmel’s Light comes from a very personal place. Ken a caregiver. He is the life partner of one who suffers from Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS)having first hand experience with the struggles and torments that having this condition imposes on it’s sufferers. Witnessing one so close to me experiencing these often frightening hallucinations ignited a desire to get involved with any effort to advocate for greater public awareness, and for the ultimate discovery of medical treatments that will one day alleviate the immense suffering caused by CBS.
Duchess Antoinette McDonald-Ellis, A.B.D, Treasurer of Mary Carmel’s Light, is a performance artist, writer, teacher, and an advocate for both glaucoma and CBS. Antoinette is legally blind and has been living with Charles Bonnet Syndrome for several years. Antoinette has worked taught at the collegiate level for nearly 25 years, where she had the privilege to teach and mentor many young minds. She has also been a performance artist since 1990.Antoinette has been living and dealing with the off-putting affects of CBS and understands the alienating nature of living with hallucinations that are often confusing and horrifying. Her mission is to bring awareness to issues related to blindness with a particular focus on the debilitating effects of glaucoma and the chilling impact of living with CBS.Antoinette is pleased to be working with this illustrious group of individuals to bring CBS into the zeitgeist of common discourse and work to advocate and develop effective treatments to individuals living with CBS and to provide a support system to aid the caregivers in their lives.
Gary M. Cusick, PhD, Education & Information Specialist for Mary Carmel’s Light, (a.k.a. “The Head Cheese”) earned his doctorate in Rehabilitation Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He taught live or online for five universities. His focus has been on the unique needs of persons with disabilities. He retired in 2021 from a residential rehabilitation center that provided blindness skills for persons with visual impairments. Since retirement, he has maintained his license as a clinical psychologist and has worked to increase understanding and awareness of Charles Bonnet Syndrome. Dr. Cusick has dedicated his time and engery to helping people living with CBS. He launched the first US CBS Support Group and continues to tirelessly devote his efforts to bring education, information and awareness about Charles Bonnet Syndrome to the US medical community and the general public.
Siobhan Midgley is the founder and CEO of Focus Forward Vision Services, an educational consulting company providing habilitation, rehabilitation, and consulting services for blind and visually impaired children and adults.
Siobhan’s work in the field has led her to many clients with Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) where she provides support and education. She has presented on CBS for many organizations, including the Illinois American Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (IAER), the Older Individuals who are Blind Technical Assistance Center (OIB-TAC), and she was most recently a guest on Hadley’s podcast Series “Hadley Presents: A Conversation with the Experts”.
Siobhan received her bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from University of Illinois at Chicago in 2018 and her master’s degree and certifications in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy, Orientation & Mobility, and Teaching of the Visually Impaired at Northern Illinois University in 2020.
Rosemary G. Anderson, a.k.a. Ro, is a retired civilian federal employee with 28 years beginning in Germany and ending in Virginia working with the Department of Defense. It was a juggling act all those years with an Active Duty Spouse, three children and a BIG German Shephard, but we all persevered through the good as well as the difficult times. We all grew together and our children grew to be kind, loving and wonderful adults…which now includes my beautiful grandchildren. That is my legacy! My strong and emotional connection with Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) and Mary Carmel’s Light began when my dear sister Mary was grossly misdiagnosed with Dementia and I and her two dear children, Eva and Kevin were very upset and not in the least accepting of this medical diagnosis. Eva and Kevin were very busy with taking care of Mary, so I did some digging on the internet and found CBS symptons for visually impaired people. Sent the article to Eva and Kevin, and the rest is history, and also the future for folks and their caregivers who have to endure this illness. I am very excited and honored to be a part of Mary Carmel’s Light, and with the hope that this nonprofit will improve the lives of those affected by this residual effect of their vision impairment. May the light shine on all!
