Portia Scott, retired managing editor of the Atlanta Daily World, died Wednesday, Oct. 2. She was 70 years old.
She had a long and distinguished career at her family’s newspaper before retiring last year. The paper founded by her uncle, W.A. Scott II, in 1928 was run by her father, C.A. Scott, for more than 63 years.
She suffered cardiac arrest at home following a brief bout with ovarian cancer. Details of funeral arrangements will be announced by family members.
She was born to Ruth Perry Scott and C.A. Scott on June 9, 1943. She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta and received a degree in journalism from Howard University in Washington, D.C. and a master’s degree from American University.
She joined the newspaper shortly after college graduation and worked there for more than 40 years.
She took a couple of brief breaks from the newspaper to seek political office in the Republican Party, where she was active in state party politics. She ran against John Lewis of the fifth district in Congress, and she ran for a state Senate seat.
She followed in her father’s footsteps as an active member in local and national Republican Party politics, including serving on a Presidential Task Force and Committees under both President Ronald Reagan and President George H.W. Bush.
She also was active in a variety of civic and community organizations. She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the Atlanta Chapter of The Links Inc., as well as several other civic organizations dedicated to improving the city and the community. She was a member of Warren United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her daughter, Maryam Jordan, and son-in-law, Demetrius Jordan, as well as three grandchildren, two nephews, a niece and a brother-in-law. Her older sister, Jocelyn Scott Walker, preceded her in death.
(Portia A. Scott stands with her daughter Maryam Jordan at the 2012 Atlanta Business League Men of Influence event, where her father, C.A. Scott, was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame. Photo By M. Alexis Scott)
About Post Author
