Remembering Mom

Lorraine Joan Hoskins Scott
May 24, 1915-April 26, 2008

Lorraine Joan Hoskins Scott, a generous, glamorous, fun-loving, loyal, creative American was born May 24, 1915 in Greenville Mississippi. Her parents were Solomon (b. 1884) and Ella Nora Hoskins (b. 1895). She had a brother Theodore Roosevelt Hoskins, born in 1911, who preceded her in death.

She attended Sacred Heart in Greenville Mississippi, where she was baptized Catholic in 1929.

As a girl she loved to play basketball, entertain her friends, and read.

Lured by the promise of opportunity for a better life in the North, she traveled with the Great Migration to Chicago in her 20s to find work. Always a caretaker, eventually, she sent for her mother, her brother, other family members, and even her best friend, Estelle Bivens. She assisted the newcomers in finding housing and work in her newfound home. She loved Chicago.

Lorraine worked several housekeeping jobs before landing a job at Western Electric, (the manufacturing arm of AT&T) in 1943 at age 28. The job provided steady income, full medical benefits, full pension, and union membership-- a real prize for a young Black girl from the Deep South. After working dutifully for 25 years, in 1968, she retired to be an at-home-Mom.

When she met William Arthur Scott, in 1943, it was love at first sight for both of them. Lifelong soul mates, Lorraine and William married, April 9, 1944 and celebrated 64 years of marriage this year.

Eventually, William joined Lorraine at work at Western Electric, where they commuted daily together for more than two decades.

Although their lives were full and rich, in their comfortable house on Chicago’s South Side, they had an empty space in their hearts. They adopted two baby girls, Stephanie, and Karla in 1962 and enveloped them with love.

Their goal as parents was to provide lots of love, educational opportunities, material comfort, fun, and spiritual guidance They even got pets for the first time in their married lives, so their children could enjoy the experience. Included in their gifts to their children were Catholic schools, Girl Scouts, the 4-H club, ballet lessons, piano lessons, and college.

Her greatest loss was when her daughter, Stephanie Katrina, passed away in 1983.

Lorraine was known as a generous soul who helped countless individuals, numerous charities, and her church, St. Dorothy's.

She was a member of several social organizations including Jolly Cliques, Christian Youth Fellowship, Ladies Guild, Le Players, the Knights of Peter Claver Women’s Auxiliary, and the Avalon Swingers (seniors) Dance Troop. She volunteered annually for La Rabida Children’s hospital for many years.

Always full of energy, she loved line dancing, and danced regularly with senior citizens dance groups, throughout Chicago up until she suffered a stroke in 2005. She was even featured on local television networks, performing with her dance group, The Avalon Swingers. When interviewed by broadcast journalists, she expressed her joy for living.

Lorraine traveled extensively in the US and to Greece, China, Israel, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean.

She is survived by her husband William Arthur Scott (b. 1913) and her daughter Karla Joy Scott.

Also, she has a niece, Laverne Hadley, two grand nephews, Craig and Doug Anderson, and a grandniece, Lisa Anderson Hawkins.

Her closest friends are Estelle Bivens Buser and Juanita. Estelle Bivens Buser has been a lifelong friend. She and Juanita Blakey were like sisters to Lorraine.

Lorraine had a positive impact on the lives of everyone she touched. She will always be remembered as colorful, generous, stylish, loving and warm.