Betty Pope Scott Noble

Mrs. Betty Pope Scott Noble, affectionately known to many as Popesy, died on Thursday, August, 7, 2012 after a lengthy illness. She was born March 30, 1923 at the home of her parents, Annie Pope Bryan and Milton Candler Scott at 306 Avery Street in Decatur, Georgia. She was the second of four daughters. She spent many happy childhood years playing at the barn behind her grandparent's home (312 South Candler St.) with her sisters, cousins, a neighborhood boy with Down syndrome and Oscar, the beloved family helper. Betty entertained her family for years with stories about the barn adventures and riding the pony cart to get candy and ice cream at the cotton mills in Scottdale, owned by her family. Countless stories exist about her barn antics and particularly her feisty ways. Betty was always known to "fight" to protect the underdog, especially for the boy with Down syndrome, who looked to her as his protector. Mary and Lelia, the family helpers for all of her life, were a significant part of her growing up years and the main characters of many colorful family stories. Betty attended Winnona Park Elementary School and Decatur Girls High, serving as president of her graduating class. She was a track star, excelling in high jump, a cheer leader and was voted most popular and best natured. She attended Agnes Scott College and graduated in 1944. She majored in Bible and History and was involved in numerous student activities. Betty was very involved in student government, serving on the executive committee. She enjoyed playing tennis, hockey and was active in the Athletic Association, the Bible Club and was president of the Granddaughter's Club. She was particularly close to several students whose parents were missionaries and always admired them greatly. Betty was born into the Scott family, a strong Christian family on both sides. Her mother's father was a Methodist minister. Her great-grandfather, Col. George Washington Scott, was the founder of Agnes Scott College, named for his mother, Agnes Irvine Scott, to whom he attributed "all of the good impulses of his heart." Her family took very seriously their Christian responsibilities. They lived out their lives keenly aware of "to whom much has been given much is required." Agnes Irvine Scott's favorite verse has been handed down in the family for eight generations. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5 and 6). Betty was always deeply grateful for her family heritage and her passion became telling the story of the founding of the college. She strongly felt it was important to have the inspirational story of the founding of Agnes Scott College and its rich history preserved for future generations. Her father, Milton Candler Scott, who died at 106, told her many stories about Agnes Irvine Scott and George Washington Scott. She travelled to Ballykeel, Northern Ireland (the birthplace of Agnes Irvine Scott) on several occasions, researching her family history. She wrote two booklets entitled, The Story of Agnes Irvine Scott and The Story of George Washington Scott. Betty was very active in church youth groups and local mission projects (at Decatur Presbyterian Church). She told stories about visiting the prison with her father (where she said she was afraid to shut her eyes during the prayers). She also organized Sunday School and Bible School for African American children on Heron Street. During high school she loved her summers at Camp Symrna, and she became known for diving from a very high dive that no one else would attempt. After graduating from college, Betty worked as youth director at Oakhurst and Wee Kirk Presbyterian churches. She married James Phillips Noble, a Columbia Theological Seminary graduate, in 1945 and they began a lifetime of shared ministry together. Their first pastorate involved two churches, McDonough Presbyterian Church and Timberidge Presbyterian Church, where they served for three years. Their next call was to the Second Presbyterian Church in Greenville, South Carolina, where their three children, Betty, Phillip and Scott were born. After nine years in Greenville, they accepted a call to the First Presbyterian Church in Anniston, Alabama. During their years there (1956-71) she taught in the church kindergarten and was a very dedicated mother, being involved in all of her children's many activities. She enjoyed participating in study and sewing clubs and was fully engaged in all of the numerous church ministries. Throughout their ministry together, Betty shared fully with her husband in the life of the church and community. During the 1960s, as the Civil Rights Movement unfolded, Anniston was the site of the burning of the freedom rider's bus. Betty was fully supportive of her husband, who had been appointed by the city as Chairman of the first Bi-racial Commission in Alabama, which led the integration movement in Anniston. His position brought with it the dubious honor of being number one on the hit list for the Ku Klux Klan. Their work saved Anniston from much of the racial violence that occurred in cities in Alabama such as Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma. During those critical years, her youngest son, Milton Scott Noble, was diagnosed with leukemia and died at Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York after a courageous battle of approximately one and a half years. Following the pastorate of 15 years in Anniston, Betty and her husband and son, Phillip, spent a year at Cambridge University in Cambridge, England, where she reveled in her love of history and developed a fondness for the English tea tradition. They returned to America, being called to the historic First (Scots) Presbyterian Church in Charleston, South Carolina, where they served for 10 years. During those years, she took a strong interest in and was very involved with young mothers in the congregation. Because of their gratitude and devotion for her, they honored her by naming their circle the Betty Noble Circle, which continues today. She was fully immersed in the life of Charleston, the history of the old city, enjoying the Garden Club and serving as a tour guide in historic homes. While in Charleston, they started the tradition of Scottish Heritage Sunday at First Scots Church, which continues to this day. Betty was instrumental in starting a Reading Is Fundamental program on the island schools with African American children. In 1982, they moved to Decatur, her childhood home. Dr. Noble took a position as executive secretary of the Board of Annuities and Relief of the P.C.U.S. During her years in Decatur, in addition to her church work and activities, she was a tutor with students from other countries (ESOL program) and enjoyed being in a book club that had continued for three generations. Betty served on the Board of Trustees at Agnes Scott College for 10 years, working particularly with the Faith and Learning Council and with the Global Awareness Program. At Agnes Scott, she continued her passion of "telling the story" through her involvement in the Centennial Celebration of the founding of the college. She organized and led a group of family members and college representatives on a trip to Alexandria, Pennsylvania to place a plaque on Agnes Irvine Scott's grave, marking her relationship to the college. She commissioned a portrait of Agnes Irvine Scott, which she presented to the college at the Centennial Celebration. She set up many scholarships at the college in memory of Scott family members, in particular scholarships for missionary children and international students. Betty was honored with the Distinguished Alumnae Award for Service to the College Alumnae Award in 1999. Her husband honored her by the creation of the Betty Pope Scott Noble College Heritage Center at Agnes Scott in 2011. Throughout their years in the ministry, she was always the most kind, unselfish, sincere, authentic and gracious Southern lady who genuinely loved people and enjoyed entertaining church members, friends and family. Betty and her husband traveled extensively on six continents, hosting numerous trips abroad with church members, friends and family. Betty is survived by her devoted husband of 67 years, her daughter, Dr. Betty Scott Noble, her son Phil Noble, Jr., her daughter in law, Nancy Madden and two grandchildren, J.P. Noble, III and Lizzie Madden Noble of Charleston, South Carolina, as well as her "adopted" daughter, Jean Cleveland of Greenville, South Carolina. She is also survived by her sister, Mickey Willoch and her brother in law, Ray Willoch and their three children, Susan Willoch Shaver, Ray Willoch and Lisa Willoch Ortlip and their children. Survivors also include her nephew, David Wilkinson, his wife Patsy and two nieces, Shelly Wilkinson Workman and Jill Wilkinson Shin and their families, as well as numerous extended Scott family members. There will be a private internment at 10:15am on Friday, August 10 at the Decatur Cemetery for family and close friends. The service celebrating her life will be at Decatur Presbyterian Church at 11:00am, followed by a visitation reception. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Betty Pope Scott Noble College Heritage Center, the Betty Pope Scott Noble scholarship fund at Agnes Scott College and the Milton Scott Noble Scholarship fund at Columbia Theological Seminary. Contributions may also be made to the Global Mission Fund and Children's Ministry at Decatur Presbyterian Church. A. S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory.


Funeral Home:
A. S. Turner & Sons
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033