James Cleveland Scott

James Cleveland Scott, born December 1, 1938, was the firstborn of eight to the union of James William Scott and Charlotte Bellizan-Scott in New Roads, Louisiana. His birthplace was on the Sugarland Plantation, which still exists today.

He began his education at the Mt. Era Baptist Church Schoolhouse in New Roads. Later the family moved to the city, where he attended Scott Street Elementary, Eden Park Elementary and then Greenville Elementary in Baton Rouge, LA. James graduated from Capitol Junior-Senior High School in 1958. He also attended Southern University, where he majored in Psychology.

James began his professional career in retail. He also was active in the civil rights movement, participating in the bus boycott, which meant he walked miles each day to and from work. Later, James moved to Oakland, California, where he began working in sales, marketing, and finance. Because of his success, he was later assigned a coveted area in San Francisco, California. He then went on to spend 20 years working in the insurance industry for AAA. Following those two decades, he later became a car salesman for Nissan, where he once again achieved great success. James took pride in being honest with his clients, and this made him a favorite among his peers and customers alike.

Upon retirement, James made another big change, moving to Spring, TX, where he spent a short time enjoying retirement before deciding to rejoin the workforce as a school bus driver for the Conroe Independent School District. He loved all the kids that rode his bus, and he spent hours hanging out with his fellow bus driver friends in the bus center, playing dominos and discussing life.

James had four children, Chereal Marie (John Henry Jr.), Ronetta Ann, Michael James, and Karen Lynette (Marcus Sr.). While he was living in San Francisco, he met the former Inge Hammerle, and the two married on February 27, 1988. Through this marriage, James became stepfather to Alex and Michael.

James was quiet, but a man of many talents. As a singer, he was known early on to have a voice like Nat King Cole, singing songs like “Mona Lisa,” just as Cole sang them. In his free time, he was a prolific artist who loved drawing, an innovator, and even an inventor of useful items around the house. Throughout his life, James had many other hobbies as well. He enjoyed playing golf, fishing, playing dominoes, hosting poker nights with his buddies, engaging in carpentry, watching sports; he even tried his hand at learning the guitar. James loved traveling with his family, from the mountains of Utah to the islands of the Caribbean to the palaces and ruins of Europe.

James was preceded in death by and has joined his son, Michael James, and daughter, Ronetta Ann, who gained their wings and are now with their dad in heavenly bliss. Oh, what a family reunion that was. His legacy will be remembered by his loving wife of nearly 37 years, Inge; daughters, Chereal Marie and Karen Lynette; stepsons, Alex (Charisma) and Michael (Eve); seven brothers and sisters, Thelma (Jacob), Lionel (Barbara), Annie Mae (Carey), Joseph (Mary), Ingrid (John Sr.), Tyrone (Tammy), and Darlene; eight grandchildren, Kendrick Kenyon, Latonya Chereal, John Henry III, Latoya Chardai, Dominic Vashawn, Marcus Darnell Jr., Karson Nicole, and Ava Marie; three great-grandchildren, Zoie Grace, Gavin Scott, and Gage Thomas; and a host of nephews, nieces, family, and friends.

James was a man of strong character and integrity, and he loved with his whole heart. He never met a stranger he did not like, and his memory will live on with all of those he impacted over his lifetime.

A memorial service for James will be held Friday, January 17, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home & Cemetery, 18000 Interstate 45 S, The Woodlands, TX 77384, followed by a reception from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.