LaVonne Scott

LaVonne Billingsley Scott, retired professor of English, Modern

and Classical Languages at Freed-Hardeman University, died Tuesday,

May 10, 2011, at her home in Henderson, TN. Mrs. Scott, 92, was born

Margaret LaVonne Billingsley on August 28, 1918, in Cowlington, OK,

the first of three children of Dr. C. B. Billingsley, M.D., and Mary Chloe

Harbour Billingsley. Educated in the public schools of Fort Smith, AR,

she received degrees from Freed-Hardeman, the University of

Arkansas, and the University of Memphis. She also pursued doctoral

studies in Linguistics at the University of Mississippi.

Mrs. Scott was the widow of the late Thomas E. Scott, whom she

met while they were students at Freed-Hardeman College in 1936.

They were married in 1940. After a number of years in ministry to

Churches of Christ in Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and

Texas, Mr. and Mrs. Scott joined the faculty of Freed-Hardeman in

1954. Mr. Scott, who chaired the Social Sciences Department at FHU,

preceded her in death on March 4, 1971.

After retiring from FHU in 1986, Mrs. Scott tutored many students

and taught in Nigerian and Kenyan mission schools. She travelled

regularly to Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas. She

was a longtime member, frequent officer, and tireless worker for the

Freed-Hardeman Associates, Henderson Civitan Club, and Delta Kappa

Gamma society of women educators. She was a lifelong member of the

Churches of Christ.

LaVonne Billingsley Scott is survived by her three children: Ralph

B. Scott and Susan S. (Mrs. Frank) Bradford of Henderson, TN, and Tom

E. Scott of McMinnville, TN. She is also survived by a large extended

family and network of friends and colleagues.

Mrs. Scott’s other surviving family includes: her sister and

brother, Mrs. Betty (Wendell) Broom of McKinney, TX and Dr. C. B.

(Carolyn) Billingsley of Ardmore, OK, her sister-in-law Mrs. Janie Scott

Greene of Centralia, IL; and Jacquelyn Harbor Scott of Morehead, KY.

Grandchildren: Todd Scott of Greensboro, NC, Dr. Cliff and Jill Dineen

Scott of Charlotte, NC, Clifton Laird of Jacksonville, AR, Dr. Sarah Laird

and Emily Laird of Nashville, TN, Olivia Bradford of Henderson, TN,

and Brittany Bradford of Fort Bliss, TX. Thirteen nieces and nephews:

Terry (Judy) Tilghman of Guthrie, KY, Doris Ann (David) Davenport of

Centralia, IL, Dr. Wendell (Sharon) Broom of Holderness, NH, Linda

Broom of Sharon, TN, Mary Beth (Lee) Best of Memphis, TN, Dr. David

(Vicky) Broom of Abilene, TX, Margaret (David) Adams of McKinney,

TX, Kathryn (Ken) Mick of Orange Park, FL, Jonathan (Amelia) Broom

of Richardson, TX, C.B. (Jamie) Billingsley III of Oklahoma City, OK,

Dr. Andrew (Joanne) Billingsley of New London, NC, Martha Adair of

Pottsboro, TX, and Michael Billingsley of Houston, TX.

She was also preceded in death by her brother- and sister-in-law,

Edward and Annie Maude Scott Brown, and a great-nephew, Andy

Davenport.