With deep sadness and abiding love, the family of Ms. Carlie Scott announces her peaceful passing on January 30, 2025. Born on April 29, 1947, in Kershaw County, South Carolina, Carlie was the cherished youngest of nine children born to the late David and Mamie Scott. She was preceded in death by her siblings Bobby, Evelyn “Alberta,” Cleveland, David Jr., Joe Louis, Nora Belle, and Rannah. She leaves behind her beloved daughter Sabrina Scott, her brother James Scott (wife Janice), brother-in-law Jesse Cook, sisters-in-law Joanne Scott and Madeline Scott, and a large extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends who will forever miss her laughter, warmth, and prayers.

Carlie was educated in Kershaw County, attending Wateree Elementary School and graduating from Jackson High School in Camden, South Carolina, in 1965. Seeking new opportunities, she moved to Hartford, Connecticut, where she worked as a data entry operator for Arrow Hart. It was there that she met Paul Cooper, with whom she had her treasured daughter, Sabrina.

While in Connecticut, Carlie experienced a life-altering illness involving thyroid complications—an event that set her firmly on the path of faith. When her sisters Alberta and Nora prayed over her, Carlie—ever-spirited—vowed that if God healed her, she would become a Christian. Challenge accepted. True to her character, once healed, she kept her word and gave her life to Christ in 1979 at Forest Drive Baptist Church. The commitment she made then shaped her life, giving rise to three of her favorite and most enduring sayings: “Take Jesus with You,” “Say a Prayer on Your Way,” and “Thank God for Jesus.”

Carlie returned to South Carolina, working for the Department of South Carolina and caring for her daughter, her nephew Harve, and niece Carolyn, while her sister “Al” and brother-in-law were stationed in Scotland. Known for her close bond with Alberta, Carlie followed her older sister’s invitation to move to Ceres, California in 1981. She attended Valley (Ceres) Christian Center before joining Modesto Christian Center in 1985 under Pastor Jesse Stovall. Though Alberta and her husband returned to South Carolina that same year, Carlie and Sabrina remained in California, and Carlie went on to work at Nasco West for nearly two decades before retiring.

Eventually, Carlie returned to South Carolina to be with her ailing sister Alberta—who soon recovered—and later moved to Georgia to be closer to Sabrina. The bond between mother and daughter was extraordinary, filled with countless travels and timeless lessons. Whether she was encouraging family and friends to “Take Jesus with You” everywhere they went, reminding them to “Say a Prayer on Your Way” in times of uncertainty, or simply urging them to “Thank God for Jesus,” Carlie wove her faith into everything she did.

She never met a stranger, always ready with a warm embrace or heartfelt “I love you.” Yet, her sharp wit and refusal to “condone foolishness” balanced that sweetness, and a single glance from her was enough to set anyone straight. Carlie’s love language also extended into the kitchen, where she was famous for her smothered pork chops and gravy, macaroni and cheese, banana pudding, and pretzel salad. She took her card games and Yahtzee very seriously, competing with confident trash talk that delighted friends and made strangers second-guess how this gentle, praying woman could be such a fierce opponent.

Above all, Carlie will be remembered for her powerful gift of prayer and her abiding desire to encourage others. Even when faced with a stroke in 2021—during the isolation of COVID-19—she remained steadfast in spirit. Though diagnosed with an anoxic brain injury and often showing signs of dementia, her heart for prayer and her love for people never wavered. She exemplified a steadfast faith that sustained her through every hardship, and her life stands as a testament to perseverance, compassion, and devotion.

Carlie has now entered the eternal rest she so richly deserved, healed, and reunited with her loved ones in heaven. In lieu of a traditional funeral service, her daughter Sabrina has chosen to honor Carlie’s memory with a celebratory fish fry, a fitting tribute to a woman who savored sharing good food and fellowship. Details will be announced at a later date.

Though our hearts ache in her absence, we rejoice in the many wonderful memories she has left behind and celebrate the glorious homecoming of a beloved mother, sister, aunt, and friend. May we all continue to live by her example: Take Jesus with you, say a prayer on your way, and thank God for Jesus.