Gail Colleen Scott

SCOTT, Gail Gail Colleen Scott, 61, of Conyers, GA, died Monday, August 11, 2014 in the Hospice Unit of Emory University Hospital in Atlanta after a long illness. Gail was born February 11, 1951 in Hot Springs SD and grew up with her parents, Albert and Betty Scott, brother, Greg and sister, Lea in rural Rapid City, SD. She attended country grade school at Cleghorn School and Rapid City Stevens High School. Gail graduated from Black Hills State University with a degree in Elementary Education (1975) and a Masters of Education from the University of Arizona (1980}. She began her distinguished and rewarding career in education in the Gallop-McKinley NM Public School District, where she taught for five years. Gail moved to Conyers, GA with her husband, John â€œChipâ€ Jernigan, in 1981 and began teaching in the Rockdale Public School District including Pine Street Elementary (1981-89), Hightower Trail Elementary (1989-93), Conyers Middle School (1993-94) and J.H. House Elementary (2003-07). Gail was Instructional Lead Teacher at Pine Street Elementary (1994-03) and retired from Rockdale County in 2007. She taught four more years at Eastminster School in Conyers. Gail was named Pine Street Teacher of the Year (1984), Rockdale Jayceesâ€™ Young Educator of the Year (1988), Rockdale County Extension Office 4-H Teacher of the Year (1988), Hightower Faculty Member of the Year (1990) and Hightower Volunteer of the Year (1992) .Ultimately, Gail considered her greatest reward to be the success of her students. Gail was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Betty Scott. She is survived by her brother, Greg Scott (Dianne) Moorhead, MN; sister, Lea Scott, Philadelphia, PA; nieces and nephews, Dr. Ryan Scott (Heather) Sartell, MN; Kelly Hepker (Jeffery), Glendale CA; Steven Scott (Mindy), Carlsbad, CA; David Scott (Bree Ann Yasutake), Glendale, CA; Neil Scott (Jaime), New Richmond, WI; Courtney Krogman (Andrew), Doon, IA and six great-nieces and nephews. The family would like to express a special thanks to her devoted friend, Frances Carey, Conyers GA, who never left her side for over two years; loving and devoted companion, Tom Bailey, Sugar Hill, GA; her many friends, who helped her through her long struggle and the staffs of the many health care facilities where she resided. A celebration of life gathering will be held at Gailâ€™s home, 1442 Reagan Circle NW, Conyers, Saturday, August 16, 2014 from 5 to 9 PM. Internment at Mountain View Cemetery, Rapid City, SD. The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers be made to Rockdale Retired Educators Association Scholarship Fund. Condolences may be submitted on-line at www.scotward.com. Scot Ward Funeral Services, 699 American Legion Road, Conyers, GA 30012, 770-483-7216.

Gail Colleen Scott

February 11, 1953 - August 11, 2014