Della Lee Cotton Scott '24, Elon's oldest living alumna, died July 8 in Burlington, N.C. She would have been 103 in October. Read this note for details of the life of one of the university's most faithful graduates...
Scott was born in 1902 and educated in Dendron, Va. She came to Elon because her brother, Williiam Jefferson Cotton, was teaching at the college and her sister, Essie Mae Cotton (Henderson), was a student here.
Scott graduated in 1924 with a music major and certificates in piano and voice, and began her career as a teacher. In 1928, she married fellow alumnus, the Rev. William T. Scott ’24. The couple had three children, the Rev. William T. Scott Jr. ’50, James Albert Scott and Lois Cotton Scott Luke ’56. All three of Lois’ children graduated from Elon: Jodie Luke ’79, Jay Luke ’86 and Della Luke Hemphill ’87.
Della and her husband served churches in North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. She was president of the women’s fellowship in the Southern Convention. Mr. Scott died in 1972.
Della Scott was the first female president of the Elon College Alumni Association. In 1999, she joined classmate Isabella Cannon ’24 to lead the alumni procession at the inauguration of President Leo M. Lambert.