Thelma Virginia Owens Scott

Thelma Virginia Owens Scott quietly slipped out of time into eternal life on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at the home of her Granddaughter, where she lived out her latter years. She often reflected and wondered why the Lord kept her living for so long and boasted with glee just as her sister Reatha would often do, saying, “I’M ALMOST A HUNDRED”!! Towards the end of her life, she would often tell her Granddaughter, “You know, this is not our home…we did not come here to stay”. Thelma was the 5th (Middle) and last surviving child out of 9 born to the late William Milton and Mamie Collins Owens, in Tyrrell County, North Carolina. She was preceded in death by all her siblings, Roy, Mable, Reatha Mae, Willie, Robert, Wallace, Charlie, and Moses. The passing of Thelma thus closes their immediate family unit. The Owenses are a strong Christian family and at an early age, Thelma accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior and was a member of the family church…Chapel Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Huntersville, NC. Many of the departed Owens family members continue to sleep in the hope of the Resurrection on the grounds of the church. While growing up in North Carolina, Thelma received her education in the public school system, receiving her High School Diploma. Afterwards she attended the Cortez W. Peters Business School in Baltimore, Maryland, where she broke a typing speed record, and received her certification. Her lengthy career where she later retired from, was as an Office Manager at the Baltimore City Community Relations Commission (CRC), an agency that investigates discrimination claims and assists people who have been discriminated against by enforcing the Laws that protect them. Over the years, she often spoke fondly of her coworkers, especially her “adopted” son, Thomas (Tom) L. Saunders, who preceded her in death, and her Supervisor, John Ferron who said that she was his right hand. At the height of her career, she was asked to be the Secretary of then, Mayor William Donald Schaefer, however she declined the position. She was often involved in politics though, helping on the campaign trail of the likes of the late Congressman Elijah Cummings and John Lewis. In addition, she was very active in her Edmonson Village Community While spending time in Norfolk, Virginia, Thelma’s brother Robert, introduced her to John William Scott of Eufaula Alabama, whom she later married and the two of them journeyed through life together for close to 50 years. Within this beautiful Union, they raised her only child, Cascelia Denise Scott, who was born on June 9, 1951. Together with her husband who had a career in the US Army, Thelma would travel the globe and spend time living overseas. She often spoke fondly of her time spent residing in France. Thelma is known for her love for the finer things in life and for her “sharpness”! She enjoyed shopping at stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Nordstrom. She loved catching good sales on high end clothing. If you caught a glimpse of her heading to an event, she was dressed from head to toe with a matching hat, purse, and shoes! She would wear silk gloves too, on her hands which had a ring on every finger! Thelma also loved animals, good music (favorite was B.B. King), good food (excellent soul food cook), and was a baseball and football fanatic. Thelma loved her family, extended family, friends, and coworkers and they loved and cherished her. She was a blessing, and her life is a lasting legacy! Thelma leaves to cherish her memory, Granddaughter Carma Burgess and Great-Grandson Gabriel Owens Burgess; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and coworkers. “With long life will I satisfy you and show you my salvation” Psalm 91:16

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Thelma Virginia Owens Scott

August 21, 1928 - May 30, 2024