Wilma Scott Osborne

You know, it’s possible to have known someone for over 50 years, as is the case with many of you and my mother Wilma Elizabeth Scott Osborne. She was born on January 28, 1922. I’ve known her all of my life, and there are still many things that we had left to learn from her. But you know, knowing someone doesn’t necessarily mean that you know the total essence of their being, and what led them to be the person they became. What About Wilma? Besides her basic personality traits, which we all know and love, what is the essence of the woman affectionately referred to as Mama? And can any of you even begin to visualize all that she experienced in 101 years of living?

Autobiographically speaking, we know that she grew up in Gastonia, N.C. But did you know that she’s the second born of Lawrence Napoleon and Pearl White Scott? She is the sister of Rosamond, Lawrence, Melvin, Dorothy and Lander. As a child she was spoiled rotten by her father and always had an overwhelming urge to learn. My mother told of how she would follow her sister Rosamond (3 years older) to school and each day would be sent back home. When she finally reached school age, she excelled and skipped the second grade. When she graduated from high school, she was 16 and the Class Valedictorian of Highland High School. Faith in God, curiosity, ambition and sense of adventure were the ingredients that led her to Washington, DC in 1940. Another ingredient was the fact that Rosamond was already here. She and Rosamond were inseparable… Their Papa had told them to stay together and for over 80 years, they did just that. Ma told me that Odie (as we called Rosamond) met the train 5 times before she actually got on it to come to DC. And up to Odie’s passing in 2004, they always lived 15 minutes apart, they canned figs, and they prepared their own taxes together!

On November 23, 1949, Wilma married Robert Lee Osborne. He was a native of Charlotte, N.C. She came all the way to DC to meet and marry a man from home! And it is because of Robert that she became a member of Greater Mt Pisgah Baptist Church. The family has a long history of serving in this church, from Deacons to Trustees and Choir Members. From their union they produced 3 offspring: Robert Anthony, Pearl Alicia and Kathryn Patrice. She’s also the proud Grandma of Raydia, Robert (Traveler), and Kayla. She is now the Great grandmother to Ana, Asa, Leo and Lea. For Christmas 2021 and for Kayla’s recent wedding, we were 4 generations together. In a time when men and women often went their separate ways, Wilma and Robert were friends. They hung out together. Whether it was going to see friends, going to see family, or going to Church, they hung out together. Late in the night you could hear them talking, drinking coffee, reading the newspaper and talking politics together. We took Sunday drives, and went on vacation together. And after 48 years of not being together physically on this earth, in her heart they are still together. Theirs is what you call “a love story for the ages!”

Wilma was hungry to learn everything. She was a voracious reader in her day; and became affectionately known as Miss Times Herald, after the local newspaper. She later became Ms. Washington Post, as she wouldn’t leave the kitchen table most mornings until her paper was read. If you wanted an update on current events, or if you missed something in the paper or on the news, call Wilma! And sing! ALWAYS! Her voice was like a mockingbird! Picture this… It’s summertime. All the windows and doors are open. You’re in your kitchen and you start to hear music in the air. You go to the back door and listen, only to realize it’s Wilma in her kitchen. In our house there was always a concert. If Mama wasn’t singing out loud or humming a tune, you knew she didn’t feel well. I think a part of the draw between her and Daddy was singing. She is a first soprano and he was a bass. We would visit their friends and the evening would end around the piano!

Did you know that Wilma retired from the United States Post office? And better yet, did you know that there was a Postal Choir? Guess who sang in the Choir from its inception until after her retirement? If you guessed Wilma, you’re absolutely correct. She also sang in the church choir. What you didn’t guess is that she belonged to a quartet when she was in the first grade. She and the other members would go around to the classrooms and sing spirituals! In recent years, her favorite singing partner was Phyllis Newton of Second Baptist Church, SW.

Have you ever known anyone who had a project and everyone around them had to be involved? Whether big or small Mama, made sure that her family was involved in her causes. She was present at the March on Washington in 1963; and with 2 children in tow, we waited for President Kennedy’s Inaugural motorcade on Pennsylvania Ave. With Mom and Dad, we stood in line at the Rotunda to see President Kennedy lie in state, and we were present to see the Riderless Horse in the funeral procession. We also went to pay our respects to the slain Medgar Evers at the John Wesley AME Zion Church here in DC. When Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at the National Cathedral, guess who was there. Actually, the entire family. And that was his last public appearance in this area, as the next weekend, he was assassinated. During Jesse Jackson’s 1st Presidential campaign, she passed out flyers. And when Bishop Desmond Tutu spoke at Ebenezer AME Church, don’t even bother to guess! Wilma was in the audience! And she was not always a silent observer. During her more active days, she wrote articles to the editor of the Daily News expressing her views. With all that I just relayed, there were three events for which she was the most proud. Activist Mary Church Terrell organized marches with intent of desegregating lunch counters in DC restaurants and department stores… In the late 40’s, early 50’s Wilma joined the march and Hecht’s Department Store desegregated… Her second event was voting for, and the election of the first African American President. Her third event is witnessing the first African American and Female Vice President. And now her 4th is witnessing the first African American Female Supreme Court Justice…

After her retirement, Wilma’s project became to collect clothing for her giveaways in the Greater Mt Pisgah Baptist church’s parking lot. She was also a friend to the sick and shut in. Once a friend, always a friend… She could be counted on for conversation or a game of Scrabble, a ride to the doctor or to pick up groceries. And without her, many of her shut-in friends would have been counted out.

When you have a Mother who is generous by nature, you simply learn to share her. You get used to other people calling your mama “MOM”. I have friends who have relocated here from other areas. They call my Mama “MOM”. Her son-in-law Robert and daughter-in-law Marianne call her “MOM”. Her younger co-workers referred to her as Ms O. Folks from her younger years often call her Scotty, and her neighbor simply called her Osbun. But out of all the names that she’s been called, FRIEND suits her best.

When you think back over your own lives, I’m sure you’ll think of a thing or two that you regret. My mother had a regret that might seem trivial to you, but it eats her alive! When in school, she learned to write cursive. The method they were taught was the Palmer Method… It’s a very elite style of writing. She has always been extremely proud of her writing. In particular her signature… Because all of that was before technology, she wrote everything. She constantly lamented the loss of her beautiful handwriting. And that is neck to neck with the loss of her driver’s license. Her independence

“About Wilma” has shed some light on the essence of the woman! I now ask you to think back over your own personal associations with Wilma. From what’s been shared there are essential things about her that you can’t help but know now… She’s a virtuous woman. She’s a woman of vitality. She stood on her own two feet, and had a say in conducting her own affairs. She spoke her mind. She shared her wisdom. Her faith was strong, thus her 5 score years bestowed upon her by the favor of God. Her smile is still bright. She paid her dues. Her life was full. She has blessed us more than she’ll ever know! We love you more than words can ever express!

Wilma was preceded in death by both of her parents, all of her siblings and her son-in-law Robert Whetzel. Her legacy continues through her children: Robert (Marianne), Pearl Whetzel and Kathryn Osborne. Her grandchildren: Raydia Martin (Cameron); Robert T. Osborne and Kayla Whetzel Trotter (Marcus). Great Grands: Ana, Asa, Leo and Lea Martin. There are many nieces, nephews and friends who will always find a special place for her in their hearts.