"The days of our years are three score years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be four score years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off and we fly away." Psalms 90:10

THE FIRST SCORE 1914-1934
On July 16,1914, Rethney Rowena Rudd was born to Asbury and Char¬lotte "Lottie" Richardson Rudd and the world has not been the same since. She joined a family of four older children: Rosella, Alfie, Flossy, and Johnnie. After Rethney came Walter, Olivia, and Jasper to make a family of eight children.
One of her earliest memories is hearing whistles blowing in 1918 to signal the victorious end of World War I. Growing up on the farm involved hard work and hard times, but through faith in God and love for one another, the family survived. Rethney grew up in the church, and at the age of twelve, she decided to accept Christ as her Lord and Savior. She was baptized and joined God's family through Pine Chapel Baptist Church in Hollister, North Carolina. During these early years, she attended school whenever she could. She was a very apt student who enjoyed school and would have made an excellent public school teacher. In addition to working on the farm, she became responsible for caring for her younger brother, Jasper. Older sisters and brothers married and Rethney became an aunt. She would become an aunt numerous times.

THE SECOND SCORE 1934-1954
In 1936, Rethney met the man of her dreams: a bald-headed, smiling, smooth-talker named William Walter Scott. They married on June 4, 1938. Rethney had now become a wife and a daughter-in-law. On March 23, 1939, motherhood was added to her roles with the birth of their eldest son, Jesse James. Jesse was followed by Charles William in 1941; Sadie Bell in 1944; Emily Elizabeth in 1946; George Henderson in 1949; and finally Herbert Clayton in 1951.
Mother or Mama, as she shall be called from this point on, began to train up her children in the way that she would have us go by teaching us about God in the home through family devotions, Bible stories, and Bible verses. We learned The Lord's Prayer, The Twenty-Third Psalms, The Ten Commandments, and other passages of scripture. She taught us to love one another, not just our brothers and sisters, but others as well. Jesse, Charles, Sadie and Emily started their formal education during these years.
During this period of time, Mama would help care for her father-in-law, her mother-in-law, a cousin-in-law, and her own father. All of these relatives died during this score of her life.
In 1950, we moved to the farm where Mama resided until her death. In spite of the hard times, the family spent many wonder¬ful years growing up there. The day did not begin without prayer and thanks for food. When the working day was over and if we were not too tired, we spent our evenings reading, listening to Daddy tell tall tales, playing home-made checker games, listening to Bible stories being read by Mama or Daddy. We did not have time to become bored; life was too full and exciting.

THE THIRD SCORE 1954-1974
During the early years of this score, George and Clayton (Herbert) would begin their formal education. Work on the farm continued. We would worship at Pleasant Hill (Daddy's church) on second Sundays and at Pine Chapel (Mama's church) on fourth Sundays. We also attended other churches in the community.
In 1954, shortly before Hurricane Hazel came through, Mama had to have surgery. Clayton, only about three years old, prayed for her. "Lord, make my ma well. Say 'Nail him to the cross Buck'". "Buck" (George) would keel over with laughter and Clayton would be highly upset. But God did make our ma well. Sadie and Emily were baptized and joined Pleasant Hill.
In 1957, Jesse moved to Richmond, Virginia (He moved to New York later). In May 1962, Sadie became the first high school graduate in the family. Because of hardships, Jesse and Charles left school before getting a diploma. In November of the same year, God called Daddy home. Mama was left alone with three grown and three minor children. She didn't know how she would make it. She wanted the three minor children to complete their education. Mama continued to work on the farm to help make ends meet. There were times that we had to stay out of school to work, but Mama saw to it that we did our school work. Emily, George, and Clayton graduated during this score.
In the meantime, Grandma Lottie (Mama's mother) came to live with Mama because she was no longer able to care for herself. Charles married Clementine Hamicl on July 17, 1964; Sadie left home to study nursing at Quiglcss Clinic inTarboro. In September, Emily entered Elizabeth City State College. Mama was left alone with George, Clayton and Grandma. It was very difficult for her to do any kind of work outside the home because Grandma could not be left alone. Eventually, Grandma had to be put in a rest home; caring for her at home had become too difficult for Mama.
In November 1966, Grandma went to her eternal rest. Mama continued working on the farm and doing housework. George graduated in 1967 and, in December, joined the United States Air Force. In that same year, Mama started working as a cook in the cafeteria at Eastman. She continued there off and on throughout this score with some time spent working in the JayVee Brand factory in Enfield. Emily finished college, moved back home, and started teaching at Eastman in 1968. Clayton gradu-ated in 1969, and enrolled at Halifax Technical Institute while he worked at J.P. Stevens in Roanokc Rapids.
With the birth of her first grandchild, James Russell (Jesse), Mama became a grandmother. The role of mother-in-law was added with the marriage of Charles and Clementine Hamiel (1964). Her joy of being a grandmother increased with the birth of her first granddaughter, Angela Denise (Charles) in 1965. Other grandchildren born during this score include: Shamoun Vladimir (Jesse) in 1966; Iris Teresa (Charles) in 1968. One of her many prayers was answered when Clayton gave his life to Christ and joined Pleasant Hill. Her role of mother-in-law increased with the marriage of George and Patricia Meadors (1970) and Clayton and Joyce Evelyn Richardson (1972). Another grandson, Reginald Lament (George) was born in 1973.

THE FOURTH SCORE 1974-1994
Mama continued working as a cook in the Eastman cafeteria until June 1978, when she retired. She has always enjoyed garden-ing, quilting, sewing, writing poetry and songs, so retirement gave her more time to do some of the things she loved. She continued worshipping at both Pleasant Hill and Pine Chapel. In 1975, Ada Mellette (Clayton) was born.
She was the first grandchild who lived close by at the time, so Mama had a new one to spoil. Mama took her first plane ride in 1976, when she and Emily flew to Las Vegas, Nevada to visit George and Pat. This was the first time she had seen her grandson, Reggie. He thoroughly enjoyed playing with her for those two weeks.
In April 1977, Heather Lynn (George) - our miracle baby born premature at only 2 Ibs. 11 oz. - was born. In 1978, Jered Clay (Clayton) was born, so now she had a grandson to spoil also. She may have thought that she was through becoming a mother-in-law when Jesse married Perre de Clue Patin in October 1982. Then, lo and behold, in November 1983, Emily married Robert Hilton Edwards. Within those two years, Mama inherited two grandsons, Victor and Martin (Perre) and three grand¬daughters, Nina,Tracey, and Rhonda (Bob). She also inherited a great grandson (Nina). Just when she thought the grandchil¬dren were depleted, here comes Semea Chante (Charles) on February 26, 1985.
One of Mama's goals and dreams was to finish high school, so in 1983 she started the GED/High School Equivalency program in Pittman School. One of her many "other daughters," Gladys Lawson, was her teacher. After her first night, she was almost in tears and ready to give up. It was now Emily's turn to give the pep talk. She went back and continued studying for four years. In May 1987, she received her GED. She received commendation from then Governor James Martin, and was recog¬nized by the Daily Herald newspaper; Mama was seventy-two years old.
In 1988, she inherited another great-granddaughter, Brittany (Rhonda), and in 1993 a great-grandson, Kenneth Scott Patin (Victor). She became great-grandma of Zacara and Milan (Shamoun).
Over the next few years Mama attended church and had been active in Sunday School at Pleasant Hill, so in 1993, she moved her membership from Pine Chapel to Pleasant Hill. Mama continued to be active in her home, in her church, and in her com-munity. She has always said that she wanted her flowers while she lives.

THE FIFTH SCORE1994-2009
During this last score of her life, Mama became a grandmother-in-law and was blessed with additional great-grandchildren. In 1997, she was blessed by the birth of Rayjon Isaiah Hypolite (Heather L. Scott and Reggie Hypolite). The marriage of Celia and Reginald L. Scott produced Quinten Xavier (1997), Reina Leilani (2002), Regina Danae (2003) and Devin Issak (2003). The marriage of Jered C. Scott and LaKesha Blackmon (1999) produced three boys: Jeremiah Clay, Caleb Keshon, and Jered Jaylan. Ada M. Scott and Ira Norbert Smith were married in 2001. CJ, Shamoun "V" Jr. and Genyses increased Shamoun and Tasha's family to five.
Rethney was preceded in death by her parents: Asbury and Charlotte R. Rudd; her husband, Walter Scott; her siblings: Rosella R. Lynch, Alfie Rudd, Flossy R. Richardson, Johnnie Rudd, Walter Rudd and Jasper Rudd; and one grandchild, Victor Patin (Perre). She leaves not to mourn but to cherish her memories six children: Jesse J. (Perre) Scott of Rocky Mount, NC; Elder Charles W. (Clementine) Scott of Richmond, VA.; Sadie B. Scott of Rocky Mount, NC.; Emily S. Edwards of Enfield, NC.; George H. (Patricia) ofVictorville, CA.; and Rev. Herbert C. (Joyce) Scott of Castalia, NC.; Step-Son Jimmy Richardson of Weldon, NC; 1 3 grandchildren: James Russell, Angela Denise, Shamoun (Natasha) Duncan, IrisT. (Bernard) Charland, Regi-nald L. Scott, Ada M. (Norbert) Smith, Heather L. Scott, Jered C. (LaKesha) Scott, and Semea C. Scott, as well as Martin Patin, Nina Easton,Tracey Ballard, and Rhonda Washington; One sister, Olivia (Wilson) Hedgepeth of Louisburg, NC.; nieces, neph¬ews, cousins, friends and many "adopted" children and grandchildren.
Among her special memories, Mama wrote,"! remember the times when we lived on the farm we would work hard all day. And would all gather on the porch at night and sing gospel songs. My father would start and the rest of the tamily would join in. Those were the good old days. I also remember when my children were small, I still worked hard on the farm and by the time I would feed them, some of them would fall asleep at the table."
Mama taught us much through her faith in God and her love for her family and her fellow man. We have witnessed the results of her faith and prayer. One in need has never been too far away for her to help, either by going there, calling, or praying.
Mama we love you and we thank God for giving us to you.
"1 have fought a good fight, 1 have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
Il Timothy 4:7-8