Former “Alabama’s Most Wanted” woman saves life of officer who arrested her eight years ago

PHIL CAMPBELL, AL – A woman, who was previously one of Alabama’s Most Wanted criminals, saved the life of the officer who arrested her and put her in jail.

Ten years ago, Jocelynn James was a drug addict who was shooting up drugs 16 times a day and committing thefts and break-ins. Her life was spinning out of control. James lost her car and her job. She was listed as Franklin County’s Most Wanted Fugitive.

Phil Campbell Police Officer Terrell Potter knows James personally, not only because he arrested James numerous times, but because she had attended the same school as his daughter.

In 2013, while in jail, James decided she had enough. She asked God to heal her and she enrolled in a rehab program.

It’s six years later and James is still clean, working three jobs and also running her non-profit organization, “Place Of Grace.”

One day, while scrolling through Facebook, James sees a plea from Officer Potter’s daughter. Officer Potter’s kidney is only functioning at 5% and he is in desperate need of a kidney. Officer Potter, who by now is retired, has been searching worldwide for a kidney donor.

As soon as James sees this plea for help she knows what she must do. James offers her kidney to the man who had saved her life.

James gets tested and she is such a perfect match for Officer Potter that the hospital thinks he is her father. The hospital tells James they have never seen such a perfect match between two people.

On July 21, James and Potter are at Vanderbilt University Hospital for a surgery that will change both of their lives forever.

James told WVTM 13, “For God to use me as a vessel to extend Mr. Potter’s life is my greatest accomplishment. I should be dead. Instead, God helped me save a life. I am overwhelmed.”

The surgery was a success and both James and Potter are back home. “It’s very humbling. To have someone that would give you a part of their body,” Potter told WVTM 13. “I feel like she is one of my girls,” Potter continues.

“I love him, I love his wife, I love his daughter,” James said.

Jocelynn James and Terrell Potter, you are both heroes.