Ruth L Scott

Ruth Lee Rawls Scott was the sixth of seven children born to the late Eugene Alexander Rawls, Sr and Lula Mae (Burnett) Rawls. She was born on January 17, 1940 in Jacksonville, Florida, Ruth was reared in Marion County, Fla and spent a portion of her formative years under the loving care and guidance of her paternal grandmother Lula Mae (James) Rawls and great grandparents, Sarah (Livingston) Dicey and Tony Dicey.

Ruth was educated in the Marion County public schools where she excelled as a student. As a result of her academic and scholastic achievements the teachers recognized her natural abilities and allowed her to skip a grade in school. She graduated from the segregated Belleview-Santos High School in Marion County in 1957. Her plans were to attend Bethune Cookman College to pursue a degree in education, however due to the sudden death of her father her plans changed.

Instead of heading off to Bethune, in 1958 Ruth was drawn to Miami to attend the Sunshine Beauty School to become a beautician. While attending beauty school, Ruth supported herself by working as a waitress at Prince Cafe in the Overtown area of Miami. This is where she met the handsome young man who would become the love of her life and life partner, George N. Scott, Sr.

The pair courted for a year before George asked for her hand in marriage. On February 3, 1960, on a Wednesday night in the home of her pastor, the two exchanged their wedding vows. The two remained in Miami until 1965, when they moved into the new black subdivision of Carver Ranches with two children in tow, Kim and George, Jr.

The young couple settled into life in Carver Ranches and entrenched themselves into the fabric of the community. George became a volunteer fireman and Ruth joined with the Carver Ranches Ladies Auxiliary for the firestation as they raised money for the station and helped to purchase equipment. While George was busy with his comrades in the founding of the VFW Post 8195, Ruth worked alongside him in the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. Ruth held several positions in the Ladies Auxiliary during her tenure with them, including as President. Ruth along with her husband, George are Life Members of the VFW Post 8195.

The pair took their community engagement seriously and were active in the attempt to stop the Broward County School Board from closing Carver Ranches Elementary as part of their desegregation plan. Although, the school board managed to close the school over the very vocal and organized opposition of the community, the pair worked tirelessly to attempt to keep it open.

The family expanded by welcoming their third child, Karen to the family. Ruth found work as a Shampoo Girl at Mach 1 Beauty Salon in downtown Hollywood, Fla during the day and worked as a full service hairdresser at Belinda’s Beauty Salon in Carver Ranches in the evenings and weekends. During this time George pursued his professional endeavors in dry cleaning, running a nightclub and as a fireman. Ruth eventually opened and successfully operated Ruth Scott’s Beauty Salon on Pembroke Road until her retirement.

The family joined and have worshipped at Mt. Zion AME for the past fifty years. Ruth has served in various capacities in the church including as financial secretary, as an usher, member of the trustee board, and as a Sunday School teacher. She raised their three children and was instrumental in raising their two oldest grandchildren, Chastity and Nuerl (Von). She was a mama bear and very protective of her clan. Her greatest delight came in caring for her family. In her later years she was the primary caretaker for her beloved husband, whom she called “Scott”. On February 9, 2020, six days after their sixtieth wedding anniversary, Scott closed his eyes for the final time and slipped away from her to his eternal rest. That however, was not their final chapter. On May 17th, Ruth heard the voice of her beloved Scott calling her to join him. She was surrounded by all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as she was ushered to meet her eternal soulmate.

Ruth leaves three children, Kim Scott Hodges (Troy), George Scott, Jr (Marisol), Karen Scott Greene (James), five grandchildren: Chastity Scott, Nuerl (Von) Scott, Brian Hamilton, Matthew and Raymond Greene; four great-grandchildren: Nandi Ruth Milton, Kierra and Jamirah Scott and Ryan Scott; one sister, Mazie Faison (Roosevelt) and a special god-daughter Etarsha Andrews and host of loving nieces, nephews and friends.