Mrs. Lela Martha (McNair) Scott

With tender hearts and compassionate hands, the LE Floyd Funeral Home Family announces the earthly transition of a gentle soul, Mrs. Lela Martha Scott of Red Springs, North Carolina. Mrs. Scott quietly transitioned from Earth to Glory on Friday, October 18, 2024, in Bakersfield, California.

Services to commemorate the legacy of Mrs. Scott are being scheduled and will be as follows:

Viewing: Saturday, November 16, 2024, at the St. James AME Zion Church, 116 West Brown Avenue, Red Springs, NC from 11am-12pm. 
Homegoing Celebration: Saturday, November 16, 2024, at St. James AME Zion Church, 116 West Brown Avenue, Red Springs, NC at 12pm.

The Scott and connected families are receiving services of dignity and distinguished class from the LE Floyd Funeral Home & Cremations of Red Springs, North Carolina.

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Lela Martha (McNair) Scott

March 25, 1932 – October 18, 2024

Lela left Red Springs at a young age. Her long life’s journey took her to New Jersey, New York, Minnesota, Texas and California. In retirement, Lela returned back to North Carolina, where she made several homes for herself in Durham and Red Springs. She would live out her final days in California in the company of her youngest daughter and the families of her California-based grandchildren.

A childhood spent on the family farm possessed Lela with a passion for plants and a knack for gardening. A biblical question posed by her father sparked in her a deep and personal love for the Word of God, leading Lela to become a devout student and teacher of the Bible. In retirement, Lela built a series of businesses in service to mankind. Lela operated a retail store, which she named, “God’s Herbals.” Respected by her customers and friends as a master herbalist, Lela used the store to teach self-care through biblical practice, and to sell herbs for consumption as health food. Lela also developed Scott’s Mobile Home Park, utilizing several acres of land willed to her by her father (Lacy Leroy McNair, Sr.) to create 10 units of rental housing for low-income residents in her birthplace of Red Springs in Robeson County. Toni-Jai Lane is the name she gave to the road she constructed through the center of the park, in recognition of her two sons. Still another business was, “The Eye of the Needle,” which Lela used to showcase her talents as a seamstress and clothing maker, and to sell her garments directly to the public. Prior to that, Lela worked at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, where she retired as a lab tech, after nearly 30 years on the job.

Called “Sister,” by her close family and friends, Lela is preceded in death by her late husband, John Thomas “Scotty” Scott and her eldest daughter, Princess Ann Black (maiden: Williams). Also preceding Lela in death are her four siblings: Bernetha "Newt" (McNair) Day, Lacy Leroy "June" McNair Jr., David McNair and Jonathan "Buddy" McNair. Surviving daughters are Belinda Gillespie (maiden: Williams) and Charmene Vega. Surviving sons are Anthony Scott and Jai-Te Scott. Surviving extended family include many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and in-laws. Lela’s cherished nieces and nephews, friends, distant family and associates (living or deceased) are lovingly acknowledged at this time, as well.

We are reminded by Lela’s middle daughter, Belinda, that Lela’s wish for us is that we celebrate her life and not be sad about her passing. Let us take comfort in knowing that Lela prepared herself for death by placing her life in God’s hands.

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