Dr. Phyllis Ann Scott

Doctor Phyllis Ann Scott, often adorned in a beautiful hat and white dress, dedicated her life to serving God and humanity for over 65 years. The "First Lady and Missionary of Lively Stone Church of God who knew no boundaries," passed quietly in her sleep at the age of 80, in a St. Louis hospital on the morning of June 19, 2020, a day celebrated as Juneteenth, the Emancipation Day for African Americans. Doctors at the hospital remarked how Mother Scott was a strong-willed lady because she was already battling with severe diabetes, leukemia and suffered complications from the coronavirus, yet she never wavered in her faith and continued praying for others to seek God's will. Hitherto her soul is now free indeed and resting in the bosom of Abraham. 

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS 

First Lady Phyllis Scott was born to Alex Alexander and Carrie Lee Boyd in rural Nortonville, Kentucky on July 21,1939. At the tender age of 9, her father was tragically killed in the Kentucky coal mines in 1948. She was the firstborn of six children and took an active role in caring for her five siblings while her mother served as an industrial worker. Her resilience rivaled that of her mother who was also regarded as a prayer warrior. There was no "play" time for young Phyllis Scott - only prayer time and work. While she prayed ceaselessly and admonished others to follow suit, she served her family to lessen the burden on her mother. In March of 1954, Sister Phyllis was baptized in the name of Jesus in Old Hickory, Tennessee and received the indwelling of the Holy Ghost the same year in Nortonville, Kentucky. Unequivocally, Dr. Scott was serious-minded, relentless and revered prayer warrior. As the five wise virgins, when she heard the call, she arose with her lamp that was trimmed and shone brightly. "Pursue [follow] peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord" (Heb 12:14 KJV). 
Mother Scott was educated in the Hopkins County Public School System and graduated from Rosenwald High School located in Madisonville, Kentucky in 1958. In the late 1990's, she received her honorary doctorate from the International Apostolic College of Grace and Truth in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her body of work is transformative and inspiring. First Lady Scott became a pillar of truth, holistic strength and hope regardless of her extremities because of her confidence and alignment with the Sovereign One. 

A VIRTUOUS WOMAN - CALLED TO SERVE 

On August 28, 1958, the Honorable Bishop Alphonso Scott married First Lady Phyllis Scott, the embodiment of beauty, integrity, wisdom, honesty, love and excellence. For 61 years, First Lady Scott modeled a trusted helpmeet, united in love and dedicated as a servant of the Lord working alongside her esteemed husband and friend. Mother Scott exemplified the essence of the Proverbs 31 Woman in her own right as she served her husband and family with dignity. To their unshakable union, two sons were born, Elder Dwight and Bishop Lee Scott; both are servants of the gospel. 

Sister Scott also traveled the world with her husband who at the time was a sergeant in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. Missionary Scott modeled St. Mark 16:15 where Jesus delivers the Great Commission to his disciples to "go [ye] into all the world". 

Indeed, she heeded the call to serve people from all walks of life and was given to hospitality by making strangers feel welcomed and loved. Several prayer bands emerged overseas in homes and meeting places under her servant leadership style. Dr. Scott epitomizes, a "missionary without walls" because she touched the lives of many people from diverse cultures, regardless of their political, social or economic status. While her pulpit was situated in local and global communities, she continued until her death by speaking oneness with her common language, that is, calling on the name of Jesus. Whether she traveled to the Azores islands in Portugal...Okinawa, Japan ... Germany or Africa, she was committed to prayer and fasting in the Kingdom of God. 

By all accounts, Mother Scott was content and intentional about winning souls for Christ. Her passion for God was infectious as she served in various positions in the ministry. She was an avid cook and baker and orchestrated many successful fundraisers that assisted in expanding the blueprint of the churches in Nortonville, St. Louis, Haiti, the Bahamas and abroad. Through her spirit of collaboration, she organized the first Missionaries and Christian Women's Convention in 1987 in St. Louis while serving as the "First Lady". In the spirit of unity, she brought women together in worship and praise as they endeavored to form a 100 voice choir for the Women's Convention for a number of years. And likewise, she also started the 5th Sunday Choir, which later became known as the Brotherhood and Sisterhood Choir. The Annual Women's Convention was also the platform that she used to minister to the "whole" woman-physically, mentally and spiritually. It was important to teach women how to serve both in the church as well as in the home for their family. Through Sister Scott's leadership, this auxiliary also placed an importance on serving the older generation and thus began the Annual Senior Citizens Dinner, making sure that every Senior had a Thanksgiving meal second to none. This endeavor continues to this day. 

To name a few other leadership roles, in addition to her role at Lively Stone St. Louis, she served as the First Lady in numerous other regions and countries, including: 

• The Lively Stone Church of God in Nortonville, Kentucky from 1974 to 1987,
• The First Lady and President of the Ministers' Wives of the 11th Episcopal of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (the First Apostolic Council of Kentucky and Tennessee),
• The First Lady and President of the 12th Episcopal of the P.A. of W. (Midwestern District) in Missouri and Illinois,
• The First Lady of the Lively Stone Fellowship of Churches in Haiti and Bahamas.

Many were benefactors of her teaching, health and spiritual wellness workshops and community outreach. Recently, the Guided Leaming & Academic Development (GLAD) Summer Enrichment Program of Madisonville, Kentucky donated 55 bibles to a hospital and a jail so that Mother Scott's work in sharing the gospel to the saving of souls for the kingdom will continue. And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things (Romans 10:15 NLT). 

During these unprecedented times in our history at the crossroads of a global health threat, COVID-19, racial tensions and political vices, Mother Phyllis Scott remained steadfast to her calling; she was absolute and resolute. An excerpt from the poem titled, Soldier's Story, describes her so exquisitely, "You have been a tower of strength in our darkest hour, comforting our souls with God's healing power. As her voice resonated to one of her favorite songs, "Kings and kingdoms shall all pass away, but there is something about that Name [Jesus]. I'll see you in the morning on that Great Day." 

A VIRTUOUS WOMAN OF GREAT WISDOM 

As previously stated, Dr. Phyllis Scott was the epitome of the virtuous woman spoken of in Proverbs 31 and more specifically, Proverbs 31:20 which says, "She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy." Dr. Scott felt that even those of us with limited resources could greatly enhance our finances by consistently saving and investing small amounts of money. With this thought in mind, she facilitated the start of the Ten Talent Investment Club in January 1998 with twenty-one members. Each member committed to attending monthly meetings, researching stocks, and contributing a set amount per month to be pooled and invested in the New York Stock Exchange. For nineteen years, Dr. Scott hosted monthly meetings in her home where great conversations were had, strategic direction was set, and good food was enjoyed by all. The club adopted families at Christmas time, gave to others in need, and, members withdrew funds at will for personal reasons. Despite those reductions, with God's favor, Ten Talent Investors was dissolved in 2017 with $140,000 in assets and eight (8) remaining members. Dr. Scott was not only a financial visionary to the Ten Talent Investors, but to anyone that stepped in her office, she would give words of wisdom about the importance of saving and investing money. She was a wise woman indeed and freely shared her knowledge with others. 

A LEGACY OF LOVE AND BLESSINGS 

And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth and thou shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in thee and thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 28:14 KN). 

Dr. Phyllis Ann Scott leaves to cherish her memory, her loving and devoted husband, the Honorable Bishop Alphonso Scott; mother, Missionary Carrie Boyd Stafford; sons, Elder Dwight (Taya) Scott , Bishop Lee (Sonja) Scott; siblings, Eva Pugh of Detroit, MI, Clarence (Diane) Boyd of Atlanta, GA, Joyce Bournes of Long Island, NY, and Ruby (Forrest) Scisney of Las Vegas, NY, James (Stephanie) Boyd of Detroit, MI, Larry Boyd of Detroit, MI; brother-in-law, Dr. L.G. Scott of Columbus, OH; beloved sister-in-law, Mary Scott; grandchildren, Alphonso Demetrius Scott, Lee Alexander (Sariah) Scott, Lawrence Robert Scott, Davon Johnson, Julia Grace and Joelle Alexis Scott; one great grandchild, Avery Jael Scott; a host of nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, cousins, extended Stafford family by way of marriage, special son and daughter, Deacon Frank and Sister Odessa Lester, friends and her beloved Lively Stone Church of God Fellowship. 

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