Elizabeth "Dugger" Miller Scott

Elizabeth Willette Miller was born July 5, 1933, in Salisbury, North Carolina. She was the only child of William Lee Miller and Elizabeth Lucille Buford. She departed this life peacefully on Monday, January 23, 2023, at the Bon Secours Community Hospice House, with her son and daughter-in-law by her side.

Elizabeth was affectionately, called "Dugger" by close family and friends where she grew up in Salisbury, NC. She went to primary school in the segregated Rowan County school system and attended “Historic” all black Price High School where she was voted “Best All Around”, “Most Popular” and “Most Dramatic”. She served on Price Student Council, and the yearbook staff prior to graduating as the valedictorian of the class of 1951.

Desiring a career in a health-related field or Pharmacy, she applied and was initially accepted to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). Unfortunately, in 1951 UNC refused to accept Black students so she was offered financial support to attend any other college or university of her choice. She opted to attend the Howard University College of Pharmacy.

While at Howard University, Liz served as secretary and treasurer of the Pharmacy Student Council. Unfortunately, her education had to be delayed by a year due to treatment for cancer during her freshman year. She, did not miss a beat after recovering, returning to graduate at the top of her Pharmacy class in 1956 and was inducted into Rho Chi the National Pharmacy Honor Society! Not only did Liz finish Pharmacy School with the highest GPA, but she was also recognized as one of two students from North Carolina ranked in the top 9 of the 564 graduates at the 88th commencement (Class of 1956).

Elizabeth was a dedicated and loyal Howard Alumni returning to campus to march in the 2006 Commencement with her 1956 classmates. In 2022, she was welcomed into the Howard University Legacy Giving Society. The Legacy Giving Society is composed of forward-thinking individuals who have chosen to make their core values known through their generous legacy gift to Alma Mater.

During her time at Howard University, Elizabeth began dating one of her pharmacy classmates Kenneth R. Scott from New York City, NY. Soon after graduating Liz and Ken married and moved to Buffalo, NY where Ken pursued his master’s degree at the University of Buffalo.

While in Buffalo, Liz and Ken were blessed with two sons, Russell William Scott, and Preston Richard Scott, born in 1957 and 1959, respectively. In Buffalo, the couple developed lifelong friendships with Connie and Leroy Coles and Horace and Janice Laster. These friends served as baby-sitters and godparents to the boys, as well as their social support network.

In 1960 the family moved back to Washington, DC where Liz served as Chief of the Out-Patient Pharmacy at DC General Hospital and after over 20 years retired as a pharmacist at a DC neighborhood Health Clinic. Liz was a licensed Pharmacist in New York State and Washington DC.

Liz and Ken divorced in 1999. Undaunted she exercised her newfound independence to pursue her passion for adventure aboard cruise ships, as well as international and domestic travel. Liz had a captivating personality and developed a large cadre of friends, with whom she socialized, traveled and entertained.

She was an avid reader and cultivated an extensive library of books. Liz enjoyed reading, watching quiz shows like Jeopardy and playing double deck pinochle and bridge. Retirement did not mean that she let any grass grow under her feet. Liz was involved in numerous clubs and societies, including but not limited to the "Posse", Carolina "Divas", Potpourri Mesdames, Double Deck Pinochle clubs, Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, "Dollars to Diamonds" Investment club, Lamont Riggs Bowling League, Howard University Pharmacy Alumni Association and the American Pharmaceutical Association.

Her leisure activities included bowling, watching sports including tennis, college basketball, especially UNC basketball and football. Liz was a loyal member of Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ and active in her community, serving as cub scout den mother, a member of the Pharmacy Wives, Jack and Jill of America, and member of the Oakview Citizens Association.

After a sudden illness, in December 2018, Liz moved to Richmond, VA to be near her son and daughter in love. She moved into Brandermill Woods Assisted Living where she was loved and cared for by everyone. Liz stayed active providing seminars to residents on the importance of using their weekly pill dispensers to ensure medications are taken as scheduled and often instructing staff on various medications.

She was featured one year during black history month at Brandermill Woods for being a true trailblazer for minority women in STEM fields. Liz served on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee and was an elected resident representative on the Brandermill Woods Executive Board.

Liz was preceded in death by her parents William Lee Miller (1989) and Elizabeth Buford Miller (1997), and youngest son, Preston R. Scott (2021).

Those remaining to commemorate her fruitful life are son, Russell W. Scott (Tami) of Richmond, VA; Grandsons, Sean M. Scott (Brittany) of St. Louis, MO and Taylor W. Scott of Fort Madison, IA; great granddaughter, Sidney Elizabeth Scott and Goddaughter, Stephanie Shelton. Also remaining to memorialize her are dear cousins, Agnes (Mackie) Cowan, Alan Cason, Rhonda Buford, Mynetta Burney Edwards, Herman and Brian Burney, as well as” adopted” sons Terrence Brown (Sheila) and Ronnie Wauls (Willia) and a host of other family and friends.

A service celebrating the life of Elizabeth M. Scott will be held at Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home, 11800 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, Maryland 20904, at 12 noon Saturday, March 25, 2023. Inurnment will take place at 1PM Sunday, March 26, 2023, at Parklawn Memorial Park, Rockville, MD.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Howard University College of Pharmacy via (https://giving.howard.edu/CollegeOfPharmacy) or Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ (peopleschurchucc.org)

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hinesrinaldifuneralhome.com for the Scott family.