Frances Scott

Frances Johnson Scott, age 91 of Columbus, Ohio, departed this earth on October, 6, 2023, after a year long battle with advanced Dementia. Frances was born on July 13, 1932, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the second of six children born to Raleigh Lee Johnson, of Culpepper, Virgina and Julia Navarro Marquez, of Culebra, Puerto Rico.  Frances was affectionately know as “ Frannie “ by her 5 siblings ( Raliegh jr, Amelia, Judith, LLoyd, and Eliga ). She attended Fitzsimons Middle School, and Simon Gratz High School. As the oldest of three girls, Frannie quickly adopted the role of guide and protector.

Frances was naturally beautiful, but not vain, quiet, and thoughtful of others. She was even tempered, and kind spirited. And above all, Frances loved the Lord, and carried herself with grace and dignity, at all times.  Growing up at 2519 W. Hagert Street in North Philly, in a diverse neighborhood, helped to mold her outlook on the humanity of all people.  Frances didn’t have to travel far to discover and marry the LOVE of her life. He lived up the street, on the same block.  Benjamin Calvin Scott was a strong, ambitious, and brash young man, who served in the Army, and became a professional boxer. Soon they wed, and had two sons, Benjamin, and Raleigh.

On their honeymoon to New York City, they were refused a stay at the Ritz Carlton, despite reservations, and advanced payment. Big Ben took this slight as a challenge. He vowed to own his own hotel, one day. Over the years he would acquire several small hotels, and bars, and over 100 residential properties. Their partnership began with Frances running the Loraine Hotel on Ridge Ave, and Big Ben running the Congo Bar next door. Mother did this while living at the hotel and raising her boys for the first 3 years. The year was 1954.  As the years grew, Frances focused on raising the boys, and managing the household, as was traditional in those days. She converted to Catholicism and enrolled her children in Catholic School.

In 1963 tragedy struck, when Big Ben lost the fight of his life to a major heart attack. This sudden event caught everyone by surprise. To add insult to injury, Ben had not completed a will, and practically all was lost, thru trickery and deceit. At 31 years of age, Frances Johnson Scott was devastated. She did not drink, nor smoke. Only her faith in the Lord helped her emerge
from a two year long state of depression. She decided to devote the rest of her life to raising her sons, helping others in need, and occasionally teaching the neighborhood children how to speak Spanish.

In 1996 Mrs. Scott moved to Columbus, Ohio to be close to her oldest son Benjamin. Ever the independent spirit, she lived at JayCee Arms Apartments, and attended Holy Cross Church of Columbus, until she was stricken with Dementia, and experienced several falls, breaking both hips. In 2016 she entered Otterbein of Gahanna for Rehab and Long Term Care.  Frances was dedicated to her church. She was a member of “ International Fellowship of Christians and Jews”, and “Honorary Citizen of Boys Town”. Frances was a frequent contributor to a number of charities, including a Catholic charity supporting an Indian Reservation in Arizona.

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