Carol Lee Scott

Carol Lee (Hamilton) Scott, loving daughter, wife, mother, friend, community leader, and activist, passed away on May 20, 2022 at the age of 90.

Carol was a native of Columbus, Ohio, graduating from Linden McKinley High School as Class Valedictorian. She received her undergraduate degree in Sociology from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1953, where she also earned her initiation into Mortar Board and Alpha Kappa Delta Honorary Societies.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Douglas B. Scott, mother, Carrie Lee (Hegg) Hamilton Copeland; father, Roland T. Hamilton; and stepfather, Albert Copeland. She is survived by her loving children: daughter, Deborah L. Scott of Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania; son, David D. Scott, of Powell, Ohio and daughter-in-law, Brenda Scott.

Carol began her career of volunteer service while an undergraduate at Ohio Wesleyan where she. garnered her first recognition for volunteerism---the Red Cross Gray Lady Pin. She consistently demonstrated her concern for improved relationships between the races for the betterment of communities.

During the 1960's she was active in the Civil Rights movement and directed a Leadership Development Program for the National Urban League and she also served as Director of the Springfield (Ohio) Urban League. It was her mission to provide services to eliminate poverty and illiteracy in the Springfield, Ohio community and through her participation in the National Council of Negro Women, she helped welfare mothers obtain college scholarships to continue their education and to pursue professional careers.

Her most important role was helping individuals seeking self-sufficiency by promoting and providing job-training opportunities to assist families in getting off welfare. In 1970, she founded the Clark County Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC), an affiliate of a nationally recognized community-based organization, which provides job training to the unemployed and underemployed. She was elected to the National OIC Board of Directors, a volunteer position she held for 20 years. For that organization, she organized and chaired the National OIC Auxiliary and Volunteer Support Services.

Carol broke down many barriers as an African American and a woman.

At the same time that she was establishing the Springfield OIC, Carol's entrepreneurial mindset allowed her to open her own business in an era when the law required her to have a male cosigner for the endeavor. 'Carol's Cosmetique' became the first interracial beauty salon in Springfield, employing black and white hair stylists in the same space and earning a loyal, integrated customer base.

Carol was the first black woman to serve on the Board of Directors of Banc Ohio National Bank and later, National City Bank. She was active in community affairs in the Springfield area for over 30 years serving as: Secretary, Springfield Community Hospital Board of Trustees; Chairperson of the Community Hospital Community Relations Committee; District Supervisor of the Neighborhood Investment Corporation; Vice Chairperson of United Way of Ohio and United Way of Clark/Champaign Counties; Member of the Governor's Family & Children First Initiative and Statewide Immunization Committee; Vice Chairperson, Board of Trustees of Clark State Community College; Trustee, Ohio Wesleyan University Board of Trustees; Trustee, Urbana University Board of Trustees; and First woman elected to the Board of Trustees of Wilberforce University.

In recognition of a life devoted to volunteerism, Carol received numerous awards for her
service to the community including: Springfield Chamber of Commerce Award of Excellence; Ohio Black Women's Leadership Caucus Award; OIC of America, Inc. Torchbearer Award;
1967 Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award, Springfield Chapter of Frontiers International; Community Service Award - Rotary Club, Frontiers Club, Springfield Jaycees and Kiwanis Club; Gold Key Service Award - OIC of America, Inc; 1991 Leon H. Sullivan Volunteer of the Year- OIC of America, Inc.; Woman of Accomplishment Award- Wittenberg University;1994, inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in recognition of her dedication and service to others; 2008, recipient of the Ohio Wesleyan Distinguished Achievement Award; and 2012, first African American inducted into the Wall of Remembrance of the Clark County Historical Society.
Carol was a member of The Northeasterners, The Springfield Chapter of Links, Inc., and was a proud founding member of the Columbus Sophisticates.

Carol will be laid to eternal rest in a private ceremony at Greenlawn Cemetery, 1000 Greenlawn Avenue, Columbus, OH 43223. The family will host a Celebration of Life at a later date.

The family requests for those wishing to honor Carol's life of service, please consider contributing to one or more of the following organizations:

OIC of Clark County, 920 W Main Street, Springfield, OH 45504 (https://oicofclarkco.org/);
The Southern Poverty Law Center, (https://www.splcenter.org/);
The Piney Woods School, 5096 US 49, Piney Woods, MS 39148 (https://pineywoods.org/); or
Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601 (https://www.alz.org/)