Louise (Tinsley) Scott

Louise Tinsley Scott, PhD, 92, widow of the late Robert Claude Scott, Jr., of Florence and Edisto Island, died peacefully on Monday, March 19, 2018. A strong Christian role model to all as set out in Proverbs 31, she was a member of Highland Park United Methodist Church at the time of her passing. A nationally known educator in the fields of reading education and learning disabilities, Dr. Scott was born on August 10, 1925 in Greenville, SC, where she spent her formative years. She was the daughter of J. W. Tinsley and Alice Lee Smith Tinsley, the latter’s descendants being from the Smith, Jones and Franklin families who served the state and nation on many levels beginning in the late 1700’s. Dr. Scott was educated in Greenville Public Schools where she was the Valedictorian of her graduating Class of 1942. She then entered Furman University where she met her beloved husband and life partner, the late Honorable Bob Scott, a highly decorated combat hero of World War II who had returned home. During their very happy years together at Furman, Dr. Scott served as Business Manager of the 1946 BONHOMIE, the university annual, and also as her future husband’s KA Rose while her husband later served as President of the Furman Men’s Class of 1949. In recognition of their long time affection for Furman University, a significant gift was made in 2017 to Furman in order to fund the Scott-Corley Endowed Scholarship for deserving students in honor of Dr. Scott and in memory of her late husband. After graduating from Furman, Dr. Scott and her husband moved to Pendleton where they were active and highly visible members of that Anderson County community for over ten years. During this period Dr. Scott embarked on the first stage of a four decade career of teaching and classroom innovation at the elementary, secondary and later graduate levels in the fields of reading and language arts curriculum. She subsequently taught and led programs in Laurens, Darlington and Florence. She held certifications in six (6) different areas from the State of South Carolina. It was during this 35 year teaching period that she earned her Masters of Arts degree from Furman University and her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of South Carolina in the fields of Reading Education and Learning Disabilities. Because of her distinguished academic record and national reputation, she served for 28 years as an Adjunct Faculty member with the University of South Carolina, three (3) years as a Visiting Associate Professor at Clemson University, and over ten (10) years as an Adjunct Faculty member at Francis Marion University. Dr. Scott was particularly passionate in her work with the International Reading Association (IRA) where she served as the National Legislative/ Governmental Affairs Committee Chair for over sixteen years. She was a Charter member of the South Carolina State Council of IRA serving as its President and also as Chair of the South Carolina State IRA conference. During this period she also Chaired several accreditation committees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as well as served as a member of the College of Education Advisory Board at the University of South Carolina. She was also appointed by then Governor Dick Riley to the Educator Improvement Task Force for Teacher Training and Certification and by then Governor Carroll Campbell to serve on the Policy Council for At-risk youth. Dr. Scott was elected to multiple terms for over 25 years by the South Carolina General Assembly to the Board of Trustees of the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School. During this public service she served four (4) separate two-year terms as Chair of the Board as well as chairing all major committees for the Board. At this same time Dr. Scott was active in the Delta Kappa Gamma International Honorary Education Society including serving as President of the Florence area chapter. In the later stages of her career, Dr. Scott served as an Author or Editor for many textbooks including the editions of Contemporary English, Silver-Burdett, as well as the HBJ Reading Program, Laurate Edition of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. A truly renaissance lady Dr. Scott exhibited her award winning watercolors and photography which were guided by the travels that she and her husband shared in North America, Europe and Asia. In addition she and her husband for many years enjoyed their hobby of showing and breeding English bulldogs, including the National Bulldog Club of America Champion of 1982, Lord Timothy Scott. Dr. Scott was also the recipient of many awards during her storied career including the Palmetto Patriot’s Award and the SC-IRA State Literacy Award. As the most revered and talented Matriarch of three generations of the Scott family, she was the person most responsible for inspiring and supporting the public service contributions and works of her late husband, her late daughter and her son, all of whom are recipients of the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian award. Although she enjoyed an amazing and extended professional career, she was most devoted to her faith and her family. She was active and taught in the Sunday School and Vacation Bible programs of her children. She spent endless hours knitting sweaters and other clothing as well as meticulously preparing scrapbooks for her beloved grandchildren. She most especially enjoyed her Fourth of July and Thanksgiving family holiday outings at Edisto Island where her family has maintained a beach cottage since the 1950’s. In addition to her parents, Dr. Scott was predeceased by her beloved husband, Robert C. Scott, Jr. and her extraordinary daughter, Dr. Susan Scott Lynch, as well as her sole sibling, her sister Evelyn Forrest. She is survived by her son, Ron Scott (Debbie) and their three children, Robert Scott (Darby), Jordan Scott Medley (David) and Carter Scott (Callaway) as well as their children (her great grandchildren): Tatum and Boden Scott, Ellison and Cannon Medley and in mid-May, Aubrey Anne Scott. She is also survived by her beloved daughter’s children, Tinsley Maness (Michael) and Scottie Smith (Austin) and Tinsley’s children Elouise and Hart Maness. The family is very grateful to the many caregivers at Methodist Manor, who provided loving care on a 24/7 level to Dr. Scott for almost seven (7) years as well as the Agape Hospice team in her final days. Memorials may be made to the Dr. Louise Tinsley Scott Distinguished Educator Scholarship at Francis Marion University; or the Dr. Susan Scott Lynch Memorial Scholarship at Columbia College; or to the charity or scholarship program of one’s choice. The family will receive friends from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 22nd at the Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel in Columbia followed by an internment service in Greenville at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 23rd at the chapel located in the Woodlawn Mausoleum, Woodlawn Memorial Park. 

Online Condolences: Dunbar Funeral Home

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