Potts was a quiet, responsible and obedient child who was close to her parents and only sister and who enjoyed music and dancing. She was tall for her age, and affectionately nicknamed "Rosebud" by her mother. According to some accounts, by 1951, she appeared one or two years older than her ten years, although she still enjoyed playing with childhood toys such as dolls. She attended Louis Agassiz Elementary School, where she was regarded as an attentive and popular student who typically achieved B grades.
