Catherine Johnson Scott

Obituary For Catherine Johnson Scott

Catherine Johnson Scott, 92, of Richmond, died November 30, 2022. She was born October 1, 1930 to Annie Belle and Joseph Johnson Sr. in Richmond, VA. She was the youngest of 5 children. She graduated from Armstrong High School Class of 1947. Upon graduation, she entered Union University and received her degree in Elementary Education. Anxious to experience Big City life, she postponed a teaching career, and moved to New York City. Although, Catherine never learned to drive a car, she quickly mastered the mass transit system of New York and thrived there for 13 years where she met and married her soul mate, Lester Scott (affectionately called Scotti). In New York City, she worked as a waitress and receptionist for a large meat wholesaler. Catherine and Scotti had 3 children; Yvette in 1958, Scotti in 1961, and Todd in 1963. Not long after Todd’s birth, her family encouraged them to move back to Richmond to raise the 3 little ones. Dad became an over the road truck driver and Mom chose to teach in Richmond Public Schools. During her tenure of over 25 years with RPS, she taught at several different elementary schools. However, her last and longest assignments were at Highland Park and Overby-Sheppard Elementary Schools until her retirement in the 1990s. She was always known for her beautiful bulletin boards, which garnered rave reviews and frequent recognition for amazing creativity. Her bulletin boards always welcomed her students each fall. She loved learning and received a Masters Degree in Education from Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA, all while teaching full time. Catherine also spent several summers at both Columbia University in New York and Catholic University in Washington, DC on paid fellowships. She loved to read, travel, socialize, and shop! She returned to New York City often to visit friends and family but those trips also included Broadway plays, shopping at Macys and Bergdorf Goodman Department stores, drop-ins to some of the small jazz and supper clubs in Harlem, visits to the museums and Rockefeller Plaza. Mom was an exceptional cook likely from watching her mother and older siblings. However, Catherine never once used a recipe. She could season and tenderize the worst cuts of meat, and you thought you were eating filet mignon. She was known for her potato salad, fried chicken, and chitterlings. Catherine always had a very glitzy fashion sense and could rock a fur coat and a pair of high heeled boots with the best of them. She was especially fond of cheetah and other animal prints and could often be seen wearing an animal print scarf, jacket, hat, or a pair of boots. She famously wore bedazzled sun and reading glasses wherever she went, also. Once on a group trip to the Islands, she bought 6 pairs of boots while on a day trip to Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, several pairs went MIA while being checked through USA Customs. Much to Mom’s dismay, those boots never found their way to Richmond. She also loved to entertain and host parties often with themed décor for the table or lights and lighted palm trees for outdoor parties. No matter the occasion, Dad was always there and gladly displaying his piano skills, usually performing Ray Charles and Nat King Cole tunes as a part of the entertainment. He always played on our white and gold piano (which (likely was in need of tuning) right in the living room and never hesitated to steal a bit of her thunder! But she adored it and never discouraged him. The two of them liked to “cut a rug” and dance a two-step whenever the music played. Catherine and Scotti were married over 42 years. Dad passed away in 2002 of a stroke. Until that time, they enjoyed retirement and spending time with family and friends. And they absolutely fawned over their grandchildren. Catherine was always the ‘baby” in her family. She adored her older brothers, Joseph Jr. (RosaLee) and Alfred (Willnette) and her sisters Willa (Roger) and Lottie (Nathaniel). They adored and dotted on her as well. She loved having her 15 nieces and nephews around. Some might even say she was “their favorite auntie”. Catherine was always a loving and generous daughter, sister, mother, wife, auntie, grandmother, teacher and friend to all that knew her. Prior to developing heart issues, Catherine continued to work for Richmond Public Schools as a teacher’s aide and library assistant until her mid-eighties. She passed 2 months after celebrating her 92nd birthday! Catherine was preceded in death by her husband, Lester U. Scott and grandson, Jordan. Surviving are her children, Yvette Briscoe (Thomas), Scotti Scott and Todd Scott (Tanya); six grandchildren, Kristen (Jason), Desmond, Jarrell, Cameryn, Christopher and LaTisha; two great grandchildren, Brandon and Brianna; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends, one devoted, Audrey Britt; surrogate son/devoted friend, Kirk Jones. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, December 10, 2022 at Scott's Chapel, 116 E. Brookland Park Blvd. Interment private. Livestreaming at scottsfuneralhome.com video: https://vimeo.com/779991573