About the Scott Family Lineage
by Tamir Mickens
Since this initiative was started, people often ask me “Why and how did you become interested in this?” My answer is typically shortened when I’m speaking in person, so I am happy to finally express the full response. The Scott Family Lineage Project may have been spearheaded by me, but only exists in its current form through the help, collaboration, and resources of countless family members, academic institutions, and other repositories.
My maternal grandmother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in late 2017 and I was jarred by the realization that I truly did not know her life story. In January of 2019, I sat down to interview her about her upbringing and life experiences. Shortly after that, I interviewed my maternal grandfather, Russell Spencer. He shared with me the stories about growing up in Dixie, GA with his 10 siblings. He spoke enthusiastically about attending Simmon Hill Baptist Church and Brooks County Training School. Most notable were his fond memories about the countless relatives he remembered; living with his maternal grandmother, Rosa Sheppard Scott, and many cousins from all sides of his family. At the time, I had a small family tree that stopped at Elbert and Rosa Scott, but I did not know anything about where they came from or what became of them. My journey started there.
Tamir Mickens
Great Grandson of Mary Jane Scott
Russell and Odessa Spencer
From here, I began looking into the rest of Elbert and Rosa's children, and living relatives began to be revealed. Through social media, the first relative I connected with was Vida Addison and her Facebook group filled with other relatives. I was amazed to see descendants from Willie Lee Allen, William & Lawyer Scott gathered in this digital space. From here I began to look for and connect with more relatives. This led to expanding the reach from just Elbert & Rosa as the starting point to examining THEIR parents: Isom & Mary Scott; London & Jane Sheppard. We have been able to join with the descendants of Elbert's sister: Millie Scott Hollis-Griffin and Rosa's brother: Prince Sheppard Sr. to make the family connection grow BEYOND NINE GENERATIONS!
My grandmother passed away in October of 2019 and the reality remains: all of us will leave this world at some point. What we leave behind will also become reality for those that remain. Embracing family history has changed my life for the better. I move through the world with a greater purpose and sense of self.
I hope to keep the memory, stories, and legacies alive for those that will be here long after we all leave. We owe it to the blood, sweat, and sacrifice of the named and unnamed relatives that came before us. We owe it to the unnamed relatives that will continue to come after us.
