Mother Annie Naomi Scott

The Spiritual Evolution and Humanitarian Journey A beautiful baby girl named, Annie aomi was humanized by Washington and Dequilla Vickers who resided in the Nichburgh (Conecuh County) Alabama. This Alabama Muscogee named community (land of cane) celebrated her birth on August 7, 1926, along with her two older siblings. She received her formal education from the Baldwin County Training School, in Daphne, Alabama, Milwaukee Area Technical College and Christina Hair Weave in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1942 she and Joseph Scott solemnly vowed through a matrimonial commitment to love, honor and respect each other until they were separated by death, which occurred after 59 years of companionship and subsequent to the birth of three lovely daughters and a legacy of six generations. In 1951, the quest to advance personal knowledge, a passion to embrace innovative opportunities and a pursuit to establish familial enhancement, the Scotts relocated to Milwaukee, WI, where revelation of God's ecclesiastical mission would be revealed to her. This comprehensive mandate would transform contemporary societal norms that were ubiquitous, volatile, confusing, and ambiguous into infusing inspirations, inspiring manifestations and insightful aspirations of hope and faith. A Milwaukee community engaged in cataclysmic impacts of urban riots and civil unrest would find solace at Scott's Christian Youth Center, which was located at the core of a contentious environment. Our matriarch would champion community empowerment, familial reunification, urban youth renewal ministries and spiritual initiatives for those unfamiliar with the traditional church protocols and practices. She displayed phenomenal entrepreneurial skills as a business owner, provided profound catechisms for apprentices in cosmetology and produced prolific advocates for social welfare and change. Her stern and stellar religious modus operandi established structure and purpose for her denomination and women who embraced their divine calling, which was nurtured by Superintendent Verdell Wallace and the revered saints of the Rehoboth Miracle Temple Church Of God In Christ. Elements tangible and intangible, spiritual and natural converged to evolve an altering environment within her community, an oasis without prejudices and a sanctuary where El-Shadai transformed human deficiencies. Her charming savvy and profound courage coupled with humor, humility and a holistic concept of life afforded this saintly mother to become a Wisconsin icon, trailblazing humanitarian and nurturing witness that reached the seemingly unreachable. Mother Scott, as she was affectionately called, always envisioned her own business for hair design and cosmetic imaging, which came to fruition in 1958 through the establishment of Scott's Beauty and Hair Weave Salon, becoming the youngest sole proprietor of a black beauty salon in the city of Milwaukee of her generation. As a beautician, she became engaged with diverse populations and listened intently to their concerns, which prompted her spiritual destiny to improve the quality of life for humanity. She was able to share God's love through faithful stewardship where numerous individuals greatly benefited. More than thirty beauticians were proteges of her unique skills and talents. On numerous occasions, free services were provided to children and families that were less fortunate, which prompted Bishop Sedgwick Daniels and the Holy Redeemer Institutional Church Of God In Christ to name their Youth Imaging Cosmetology Center at the Mother Kathryn Daniels Center after Mother Annie Scott, Mother Artaska King and Pastor Claude Edwards. Her principle interest was helping others and doing the work of the Lord. She loved gardening, millinery, cooking and reading. Mother Scott was the first appointed Shepherdess of the Church of God in Christ in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1987 and established the Outreach Church of God In Christ. In 1974, Mother Scott opened the Scott Christian Youth Fellowship and Recreational Center, which provides summer youth recreation programs, daily hot meals, emergency food pantry, clothing bank, counseling service, Bible study, arts, crafts and music programs. Mother Scott's religious commitment was significantly enhanced by a plethora of powerful and prolific religious leaders across America through revivals, conventions, conferences and acquaintances. Additionally, Mother Mary Wallace, Mother Costroma Sims, Mother Martha Hayward, Mother Lillie Mae Hughes, Mother Ruth Williams, Mother Irma Grant, Mother Jenny Scott, Mother Noble, Mother Sellers, Mother Clara Jewel and Mother Nola Brown, established holiness principles and demonstrated exemplary Christian character during her formulative years and Pentecostal journey. Bishop Peter J. Henderson, Bishop J. Williams, Bishop Denise Flakes and Bishop Sedgwick Daniels were honored and distinguished to serve as her jurisdictional prelates. Bishop Williams elevated her as the first Jurisdictional Supervisor for the Third Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Wisconsin and ultimately appointed her as Wisconsin's first Shepherdess and establishmentarian of the Outreach Church Of God In Christ. The title Shepherdess was inspired by Bishop Ozro T. Jones, Jr. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The mantle of leadership for the department of women formulated by Mother Scott was entrusted to her dear and devoted colleague and partner in ministry, Supervisor Artaska King Mother Scott's years of fidelity and unfeigned labor has been historically celebrated by numerous philanthropic organizations, civic communities, religious denominations and nationally acclaimed foundations. Her work has been featured through nationally syndicated periodicals and publications that recognized her immeasurable compassion and illimitable consistency. Organizations that recognized her humanitarian journey and bestowed countless award to Mother Scott included: Black Expo, International Women's Department of Church of God in Christ, CYD, winner of the 1992 Jefferson Award, l.C, Penny Company Award, service awards from the Hunger Task Force, and the A.P. Randolph Service Award. She has received numerous awards from Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God In Christ as a woman of distinction. Wisconsin First Jurisdiction has honored her as a pioneer in the Church of God In Christ and a legend-to Milwaukee Christendom. In 2011, she was named by the Milwaukee Times as a living legend and in 2014 received the Fein Brother's Soup Kitchen Make-Over Grant. Numerous contributors supported the Center honored Mother Scott's ministry, which sustained the massive financial and economic challenges that face agencies that rely on generous donors and faithful supporters. Her legacy continues through her lineage and descendants. Children, Barbara Jean Scott of Victorville, Florida, Gloria Dean Burell, and Annie Marie Wilson; Sisters in law, J. Lillie Scott, Annettee Blackman, Helen Miller, and Viola (Earnest) Steward; 15 grandchildren, 49 great grandchildren, 56 great, great grandchildren, 1 great, great, great grandchild, special sons; Walter Wilson, Reginald Bonds, and Bob Anderson, nieces, nephews, and cousins. The Scott Christian Youth Center Family, Outreach Church Family, Church Of God In Christ Community, special friends and faithful supporters Nancy Hodges, Bob Anderson, Julie Bortolotti, and the constituency of those entrusted to her ministry. The great cloud of witnesses that preceded her in death include: her parents, Washington and Dequilla Vickers, her husband; Deacon Joe Scott, daughter and son in law; Eunice and Elder Olliver Sellers, son in law; James Burrell, aunt; Clemmie Jones, sister; Anna Liza Gilmore, step brother; Charles Murff, and grandchildren; Tonya Scott and Walter Wilson, Jr. Bishop Sedgwick Daniels.

Mother Annie Naomi Scott

August 7, 1926 - December 20, 2016