Chamika Nicole Venelle Scott

It wasn’t the time she spent working as a performance coach, or the impact she made on roughnecks of all kinds while working on oil rigs, or the successful company she founded and built from the ground up.

It wasn’t her fearless nature, her love of travel, her voracious appetite, her ability to be good at literally everything she did, or her unparalleled napping skills.

It was her smile. Her hugs. Her positivity. Her desire to leave everyone she met in life better off than she found them.

What made Chameka Scott so special was her drive to leave everyone she met -- and every situation she encountered -- better off than they were when she found them.

Chameka Nicole Venelle Scott was born in Houston, Texas on May 9, 1984 to Mario Sr. and Charmaine Scott. She grew up in Friendswood, Texas where she attended schools in the Clear Creek Independent School District (Landolt Elementary, Brookside Intermediate and Clear Brook High School).

Through her school years, Chameka excelled both academically and athletically receiving many awards in various sports such as volleyball, tennis, track and field and basketball. Although Chameka was a talented athlete, basketball effortlessly became her first love. Her love and dedication to the game of basketball would open doors beyond imagination and eventually lay a successful foundation for her professional career. During high school, Chameka received many basketball honors, including MVP of her district. In 2002, Chameka earned a basketball scholarship to Baylor University. At Baylor University, Chameka served as co-captain of the Lady Bears 2005 NCAA National Championship team. Chameka graduated from Baylor University in 2006 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media Studies. Upon graduation, Chameka would continue her basketball career playing professionally for the WNBA’s Sacramento Monarchs and overseas in the countries of Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria.

Diagnosed with colon cancer July 2015, Chameka refused to wallow in sadness and pity. While most would wonder “why me”, Chameka bravely asked “why not me?” Despite countless surgeries, a partial colon removal, trips to the emergency room, extended hospital stays, radiation and chemotherapy treatments, Chameka’s spirit remained unbroken and positive. She was determined not to let cancer or her health veer her off course. During this time, Chameka worked offshore as professional performance coach for Equilibria and Chevron. And when her disease attempted to sideline her again, Chameka refused and powered ahead forming her own company, Praos Performance, LLC. As CEO of Praos Performance, Chameka worked with top star clients Hilton Hotels, Pacific Drilling, Maersk Training and the NFL’s Super Bowl LI. Cancer would not slow Chameka down.

Chameka faced her illness with her positive attitude being more concerned with others than herself. This is one reason she will be missed so much. She had such an impact on the lives of all around her, both before and after she fell ill, that many of you are probably wondering how you will be able to go on without her in your life?

The answer to that question is evident in Chameka’s attitude towards life, and even towards death, during her illness. One of her favorite words was the word “faith.” It was her faith and attitude that led her to fight without worry not two and a half months, but two and a half years of beating back her disease three times. And that attitude rubbed off onto others around her. On her last visit to the oncologist she accepted the results of the CT scan with faith and courage stating, “I have accepted my situation. I have made peace with God. I know where I am going and I have nothing to fear”. Chameka went to be with the Lord peacefully on January 21, 2018.