Mrs. Linda Scott Celebrates 75th Birthday
Freedom of speech, something guaranteed in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Of course, the Constitution was not written with black people in mind when all these "RIGHTS" were being stated to the white citizens of the newly formed United States of America.
Originally from Emory, Mississippi Linda Scott came to Grand Rapids in 1968, to be with Robert Jarnegan, who had come to Grand Rapids to find employment.
"George Mayweather was my husband's uncle, so when George had found a good job at General Motors and was doing well, he sent for my ex - husband and I came a little later after he had gotten a job and a place for us to live and I have been here since 1968," said Scott.
Mrs. Scott began working at Grand Rapids Public Schools as a Para Pro and then she went on to Aquinas College and became a teacher.
"After teaching, I became and assistant principal and then became a principal at several different schools," said Mrs. Scott. "I was a principal at Riverside Middle School, South West Community Campus, Aberdeen Elementary to name a few." I worked for Grand Rapids Public Schools from 1972 until 2010, which is about 40 years.
Mrs. Scott and Robert Jarnegan divorced after ten years of marriage. She then married Will Scott and they were married until his death in 2015.
"I have one daughter who is deceased and three grown children, Valarie, Will and Mitchell Jarnegan. My children and my church family have been the center of my life."
She still continues to stay busy after retirement and puts serving the Lord at the top of her list of things to do.
"After retiring, I just became more involved with my church," she said. "In 2012, I had a stroke but I continued to still be active in my church and out in the community. I have been a member of True Light Baptist Church for 51 years. I grew up in church and I have always been in church and it has always been an important part of my life."
She continued, "I am a Deaconess in the church, I am the Vice President of the Scholarship Committee, I work in the church pantry, I am involved in several projects for the church. I am also involved in an event called 'Bless The Block" where we bring food and supplies to people who live in the area around True Light Baptist Church. I am in church every Sunday because it is very it is so important to me, especially since I had a stroke."
Having a stroke still never slowed her down from her involvement at her church.
"I had never been sick before in my life, and had never been admitted into a hospital before my stroke," said Scott. "I missed three days of work throughout my forty years of working for Grand Rapids Public Schools. I drove myself to the hospital after having a stroke. I was under a lot of stress because I was taking care of my mother and then my husband became ill and my trying to take care of both of them became overwhelming. My mother was in the hospital not expecting to live and then my husband was brought into the hospital. It was way too much."
Mrs. Scotts say that she would like to be known by people as someone who is a great person who cares about everyone.
"I have always been a great person to everyone and I have always been willing to help anyone," she said. "I make it intentional to be kind to everyone and I have also tried to be the wind beneath someone's wings."
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