Hattie Vernell (Spann) Scarborough

Sumter, SC…Former Sumter Mayor Pro Tem and Councilwoman Hattie V. Spann Scarborough, age 74, died on Thursday, April 29, 2021 at NHC Healthcare in Sumter.

Mrs. Scarborough was born on June 19, 1946 in Elliot, SC of Lee County. She was the youngest of three children born to the late Samuel and Ida Mae Linton Spann. After moving to Sumter in 1955, she attended local public schools and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1964. In 1968, Mrs. Scarborough received a B.S. in Business Education from Benedict College. She also studied various curriculums at the University of South Carolina; University of New York at Albany, NY; Winthrop University, and Central Carolina Technical College.

Mrs. Scarborough was a founding member of the graduate chapter of the Epsilon Delta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority in Sumter and a founding member of the VFW Post 10813, Ladies Auxiliary. She was a member of the Gladys Wise Chapter No. 1 of the Order of the Eastern Star, as well as several other civic organizations.

Hattie began her career as an educator at Dennis High School in Bishopville in 1968 and provided 32 years of service in the Lee County public school system before retiring in 2001. In 1971, while also serving as an educator, Mrs. Scarborough was licensed by the SC State Board of Funeral Service as a funeral director. She was the manager of Community Funeral Home in the South Sumter community under the direction of Mr. D.C. Mellette, until his death in 1986. In May 1986, she co-founded Sumter Funeral Service, Inc. where she served as co-owner, co-manager, and co-director until her illness.

After being asked by many South Sumter residents to be their Ward 3 representative at City Hall, she sought and was elected as the first African American woman to serve on the Sumter City Council from April 1987 to November 2010. She was elected by her fellow Council Members to serve as Mayor Pro Tempore from 2008 to 2010. During her tenure on City Council, Mrs. Scarborough served on numerous boards and committees, including the Sumter-Columbia Empowerment Zone Board, the Santee-Wateree Regional Transit Authority, the Sumter County Development Board, and the Sumter County School District Consolidation Transition Committee. Of her many accomplishments, she credited her involvement with the area H.O.P.E. Centers, the Sumter Aquatic Center, the South Sumter Gym and Park, and the James E. Clyburn Intermodal Center as her proudest projects.

Hattie was a woman of grace and distinction; she gave her all in everything she did which included giving praise to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was originally a member of Unionville AME Church and Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church and would later find her church home with Union Station AME Church. Her trust and love for God was a guiding force in her strength to endure.

Hattie was the beloved wife for 54 years to Sam Scarborough and they have been blessed with two children, Robin Meoshi Scarborough, and Corey Tehran Scarborough; five adopted children, Angelia Brown (Bobby), Denis Stewart (Luke), Tara Morrison (Rodney), Regina James (George), and Angel Bulter (Derryl); four sisters-in-law, Bettie Pearson (Willie), Lucille Cabbagestalk (Elijah), Ann Dudley; and Merry Scarborough; three aunts, Lizzie L. Scarborough, Maggie Scarborough, and Amelia Scarborough; one very special friends, Bertie Lou Thomas, Mary D. Hallums, and Blondell Johnson, and extended family of Dorothy Maxfield; fifteen grandchildren, twenty-four great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and close friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Sammie Spann, Jr., and Ervin Spann; two adopted children, Jed Robinson, and Annette T. Robinson; three brothers-in-law, Henry Scarborough, Matthew Scarborough, and Thomas Pearson; and one-sister-in-law, Alice Scarborough Pearson.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 1:00 pm in the Bullock Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. L. Washington presiding and the Rev. Dr. Phil Flowers officiating.

The family will receive friends on Friday, May 7. 2021 from 5:00-7:00 pm at Bullock Funeral Home and daily at the residence from 3:00-8:00 pm.

You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family’s guest book.

The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Hattie Vernell (Spann) Scarborough, please visit our floral store.