She was born in Cap Haitien, Haiti on February 20, 1925, to Winthrop Ramsdell Scott and Esther Humphrey Scott. Edith’s Father was born in Paris and her mother was raised in Ixonia, Wisconsin.
Family was important to Edith. She was preceded in death by her long-term partner Anton DePorte and was a very loving cousin to her many relatives in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Edith was especially proud of the artistic talents running through her family as her grandfather Edwin Frank Scott was a painter whose favorite subject matter was the City of Paris where he lived, painted and was inspired.
Edith moved to the Washington DC area and her life was centered around the community at St. Margaret’s parish beginning with her confirmation in 1938 at the age of 13. St. Margaret’s provided a spiritual and social compass for Edith throughout her adult life.
Edith graduated from the Madeira School in McLean, Virginia and graduated from Smith College in 1947. Her Smith classmates said “Pearls of wisdom fall from the lips of Edith, so we would do well to consult her, especially where writing is concerned. Her imagination and intelligence, her charming deep voice and her giggle are the qualities for which we love her.”
Her writing skills proved to be important as she started her career with a secretarial job in Paris after graduation before returning to Washington DC two years later for a research assistant job in the State Department. Edith was promoted to a political analysis position mostly focused on the African continent, and in 1974 enjoyed a year at the National War College that included a whirlwind tour of several Asian countries. Edith retired from the State Department in 1982 as Deputy Director of Research for Sub Saharan Africa.
Not content with breaking the glass ceiling at State she was always a proponent of diversity and change. She was on the Vestry that called the first woman rector to St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church and continued to be active in national issues at the Woman’s National Democratic Club. In her retirement Edith’s unflinching good nature, experience, intelligence and personal warmth continued to be an inspiration to many young women.
A funeral service will take place at 11am on June 24, 2023 at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church at 1830 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington DC 20009.
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