Norma Lanier Scott

She was born in Rocky Point, NC on July 15, 1931 to Norman McCloud Lanier and Sidney Earl Walton Lanier. She was preceded in death by husband, H. Frank Scott and sisters, Rosemond Lowe and Juanita Jones and brother, Willie Lanier.

She is survived by her sister, Ethel Wells, brothers, David, Julian, Earl and Raymond Lanier and sisters-in-law, Lena Lanier & Violet Harrell; and, by her children, Kay (KC) Dowd (Gerry) of Wake Forest, NC, Cynthia DeFusco (Pat) of Swansboro, Connie Cox (Rick) of Wilmington, Frances Mills (Don) of Swansboro and Roger Scott (Alise) of Burlington. She was a loving G-Mom to 8 Grandchildren, Austin Dowd (Mary Carr), Jackson Dowd (Mary Ruth), Jennifer Cox, Elizabeth Cox, Bill Mills (Julie), Brandon Mills (Juliana), Madison Scott (Field Cassiano) and Ian Scott and 9 Great grandchildren Emory & Kellen Dowd, Woody & Juniper Dowd, Will, Hank & Walker Mills, and McKenzie & Saylor Mills. She was a loving and beloved aunt to her abundance of nieces and nephews. Many of her children’s friends considered her a second mother.

She was a woman of grace and faith active in First Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville, NC, Cape Carteret Presbyterian Church in Cape Carteret, NC and in Winter Park Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, NC. Some of her work in God’s Kingdom on earth was singing in church choirs, leading & participating in the Presbyterian Women (honored as a Lifetime Member in 2001), teaching children’s Sunday School and helping with the pre-schools. She loved being a mother, teaching us life skills and fostering the development of our faith.

In addition to being a loving wife and mother, she worked inside the home keeping toddlers and outside the home in a sewing factory, as a helper in our church day-care, public-school teaching aid, bank teller and most notably as in inn keeper with Frank in Swansboro. Facing an empty nest, they decided to move to Swansboro and filled it up by opening Scott’s Keep Bed and Breakfast. For 13 years, they hosted and fed folks from all over the US and many foreign countries. Their outstanding B&B was recognized by the Swansboro Merchants association and their accommodation drew attention from trade and local publications in the area and in other countries.

In her spare time, she loved reading, sewing (making many lovely outfits for her girls), teaching all of us to sew and cook, gardening vegetables, fruits & flowers, and preserving and sharing the harvest. She loved her extended family, friends, neighbors, and B&B guests, writing notes and cards to those far away and visiting and calling on local family, friends, and neighbors. She never met a stranger and loved generously.

A Celebration of Life will be held on November 3, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Winter Park Presbyterian Church, Emile Harley officiating, 4501 Wrightsville Ave, Wilmington, NC. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. Live streaming is available at https://www.youtube.com/c/WinterParkPresbyterian/streams and Interment on November 18, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Seaside Memorial Park, 1161 Hammocks Beach Road, Swansboro, NC, to reside by her beloved husband, Frank Scott.

While flowers are welcome, memorial donations may be made to Winter Park Presbyterian Church 4501 Wrightsville Ave, Wilmington, NC 28403 or by app at GivePlus, and Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401 or at https://lifecare.org/donate