- Collection:
- Atlanta Funeral Programs Collection
- Title:
- Homegoing Services Jazz Jam Session for Willis Homer Scruggs, Friday, December 30, 2005, Sellers Brothers Chapel, 889 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, NW, Atlanta, Georgia, The Reverend Thomas Houston, Chaplin, City of Atlanta Fire Department, Officiating
- Date of Original:
- 2005-12-30
- Subject:
- African American men--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
African Americans--Funeral customs and rites--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
Funeral rites and ceremonies--Georgia--Atlanta---History--20th century
Funeral service--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
Mourning customs--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta--Genealogy - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798
- Medium:
- church records
programs (documents)
records (documents) - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- Funeral program for Willis Homer Scruggs. Birth date: November 29, 1911. Death date: December 24, 2005. Funeral date: December 30, 2005. Church: Sellers Brothers Chapel (Atlanta, Ga.). The Atlanta Funeral Programs Collection is a project of the Digital Library of Georgia in association with the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History as part of Georgia HomePLACE. The project is supported with federal LSTA funds administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Georgia Public Library Service, a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.
- Local Identifier:
- Folder number: 169
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:aarl_afpc_scruggswillishomer20051230
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/do:aarl_afpc_scruggswillishomer20051230
- Language:
- eng
- Extent:
- 1 page
- Holding Institution:
- Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History
- Rights:
-
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Officiating
Willis Homer Scruggs' Biography
November 29, 1911- December 24, 2005
Willis Homer Scruggs was born on November 29, 1911, to Clara Crockett. He was the only child she bore. Ms. Crockett was the sibling of three sisters and two brothers who helped her raise and provide an education for Willis. With their assistance, he learned to read, write, act, sing and dance. On November 27, 1947, Scruggs married Mary Golsby. They were married 51 years prior to her death in April 1999.
Scruggs attended Wesley Avenue High School/Booker T. Washington High School. While a student at Booker T. Washington, he was given an opportunity to serve as the director for the school's annual fashion show. For two consecutive years, he wrote songs for and performed during the show. After graduating, Scruggs returned to Booker T. Washington to fulfill this role as a full-time teacher.
He received a bachelor's degree from Clark College with a double major in social science and science and minor in education. He also taught dance, acting and other cultural activities at Clark University and held dance classes for 500 students at the Butler Street YMCA.
Scruggs also received a master's from New York University and continued his educational studies at Atlanta University and Georgia State University, accumulating 96 credit hours above the master's credits.
He retired from teaching in 1972 after 37 years of service.
Most passionate about collecting jazz and classical music, gardening, gardening research, photography and travel, Scruggs also was an accomplished dancer and singer. Willis was also one of the nation's foremost jazz historians and started The Jazz Club in 1945 . He was a member of the TVETTES dance group , which traveled during the summers throughout Southeast Georgia... his show name, "Mr. Show Business." Scruggs was a disc jockey for WERD radio station, a scriptwriter and music composer.
Throughout his life, Scruggs played an active role in the community as a member of the St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church's Men's Club, the Knights of Columbus - 4 th degree, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Rododentrum Garden Club and Jazz Club.
Scruggs was preceded in death by his wife Mary Golsby Scruggs, his step-sister Mary Lou Williams, a well renowned jazz musician, and his first cousin Nipsey Russell, a well renown actor and comedian. He leaves behind a host of family and friends , including Ann Scruggs, Gentee Scruggs, Cora Scruggs, Louise Shipp, Wanda Roberts, Michael Hollis and family, Ricky Hall, Bishop Julia Lee Wilder and family, Robert Lee Jackson and family, Janice Jackson and family , Howard and Julia Dobbs, Bruce Dobbs and family, Jeffery Dobbs and family, the entire Golsby family, the entire Grier family, and members of the Jazz Club.
Order of Service
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