Jacqueline Scott Anwana, 77, Passed Away May 7 at Cape Canaveral Hospital After Battle with Renal Illness
By Space Coast Daily // June 4, 2024
was a gifted scholar with a photographic mind
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Jacqueline Scott Anwana, 77, passed away unexpectedly on May 7, 2024, after a long and brave battle with renal illness. Her final days were at Cape Canaveral Hospital in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
Jackie, as she was known, was born on April 25th, 1947 in Portsmouth, Virginia. She was a gifted scholar with a photographic mind. She had a deep love of learning and could speak and debate on almost any topic citing all related historical context from memory.
An avid Blues music fan, she would listen to it every chance she got. Her lifelong passion was in helping people achieve their highest potential.
After obtaining her BS and MS degrees from Norfolk State University, Jackie moved to Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts as a Ford Scholar, where she completed her PhD studies and dissertation in Sociology in 1977.
Her doctoral research was groundbreaking and produced many seminal findings about women in the labor force that are still relevant today.
At the Women’s Affairs Center in Providence, Rhode Island, Jackie created and led multiple fundraising efforts using films and plays to help women in need. Her efforts were so successful she received commendations from the Rhode Island State Governor.
As a dialysis patient, she shared information on the latest research-based approaches for renal care with other patients and encouraged them to proactively participate in their own care.
She also organized seminars where the center doctors and patients met to discuss and enforce the recommended guidelines for renal care. Her focused actions helped prolong and /or save the lives of many people in the dialysis communities in both Dayton, OH and Merritt Island, Florida.
Her empathy, fearlessness, compassion and generosity extended to all who knew her. Jackie will be greatly missed by so many that she has left behind.
Jacqueline was preceded by death by her parents, Wilbur Scott Sr and Hannah Reid (Davis) of Portsmouth, VA; her sister Mary Bell (Reid) of Portsmouth, VA, and her loving great-grandmother, Mary V. Davis (Parker) and great-grandfather, George Davis who both raised her in Northampton County, NC.
She is survived by her devoted and loving husband of 48 years, Okon D. Anwana of Merritt Island, FL; her brother, Wilbur Scott Jr and her sisters, Betty Riddick (Reid) and Sandra Bell (Reid) all of Portsmouth, VA and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins in FL, NY, VA and NC and a host of family by marriage in Nigeria.
Visitation will be on Friday, June 7, 2024 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Metropolitan Funeral Home, 5605 Portsmouth Boulevard, Portsmouth, VA 23701. Funeral Services to begin at 10:30 AM on Saturday, June 8th, 2024, at the Metropolitan Funeral Home. Interment will be at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, in Chesapeake, VA. Flowers must received no earlier than Friday, June 7th.
Please sign Jackie’s online guestbook for the family at metropolitanfuneralservice.com.
