As the managing editor of the Atlanta Daily World, Portia A. Scott was proud to continue a tradition started in 1928 by her uncle, W.A. Scott II, and later run by her father, C.A. Scott.
Portia Scott started writing for the paper as a teen, and made it her career after graduating from college, said her son-in-law Demetrius D. Jordan.
“She understood through the Atlanta Daily World that the African American community was a big, broad, diverse community,” Jordan said. “You could see in her approach and in her work that she was concerned about ensuring that the African American community was well represented in a variety of ways.”
Scott, who worked at the paper for more than 40 years, said her cousin M. Alexis Scott, publisher of the paper, retired last year.
“She was totally dedicated to the paper, and seeing it sustained,” Scott said. “She served as her father’s assistant, and she is the person who called me to say they needed some help to keep the paper going.”
Alexis Scott said her cousin wanted to make sure the paper not only informed its readers, but educated and inspired them as well.
Portia Alexandria Scott died Oct. 2 from cardiac arrest, a complication of the ovarian cancer, her family said. She was 70.
A funeral is planned for 11 a.m., Wednesday at Warren Memorial United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Lincoln Cemetery. Young Levett Funeral Home, Monroe, is in charge of arrangements.
Born in Atlanta, Scott graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. From there she went to Howard University, where she graduated with a degree in journalism. Scott also earned a master’s degree from American University.
Upon her return to Atlanta Scott not only worked at the family newspaper, she also taught and became active in politics. In 1986 she ran as the Republican nominee for congress and in 1998 for state senate. She was a life-long Republican and was very interested in the empowerment of women.
Xernona Clayton said when she started an organization in the late-‘60s called the Atlanta Association of Media Women, Scott was a key player.
“She not only was helpful with suggestions, but she carried our stories back to the paper,” Clayton said. “She made valuable contributions to that organization.”
Scott used her platform at the paper to make sure no one was shut out of local and national conversations, said her daughter, Maryam Jordan.
“Sure equality for African Americans and better education for African Americans was important,” her daughter said, “but so was seeking justice for all of the oppressed.”
In addition to her daughter, Scott is survived by three grandchildren.
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