Juanita A. Ferbish-Scott ’81 died on August 1, 2019, in Canton, Ohio. 

(The following was published by Sheridan Funeral Home on August 1, 2019)

Juanita Antoinette Talbert Ferbish-Scott, age 59, of Canton, Ohio, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 1, 2019, after a year and a half battle with pancreatic cancer. Juanita was born on February 21, 1960, in Washington, D.C., the first of four children to George M. Ferbish and Hortense (née Talbert) Ferbish. She attended Grimke Elementary School and Francis Junior High School. Juanita enjoyed playing clarinet and trombone in her school’s marching band and singing in the choir at church. She developed an interest in chemistry and the sciences and went on to graduate from Cardozo High School. During her senior year, Juanita attended an introductory program at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, for future students. It was during this time that she met her future husband, Christopher G. Scott, who was an upperclassman at Bowdoin. Juanita spent her freshman and sophomore year at Bowdoin College, then returned to Washington, D.C,. briefly before moving to Chicago to live closer to Chris. The two were married on August 13, 1983, and in February of 1987, became parents with new daughter Kristen. After Chris completed his master’s degree and obtained an engineering position in Ohio, the family moved and settled in Shaker Heights. In November 1991, Juanita and Chris welcomed their second daughter, Caitlin. Juanita had accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior while in middle school, and now she wanted to rededicate and redirect her life to Christ. She felt a prompting to find a Bible-believing church where she and her family could grow in faith. Shortly after moving to Ohio, she and Chris reconnected with college friends who were living in Canton and began attending Word of God Community Church with them. Although her family lived an hour away from the church, Juanita felt the Lord’s calling to serve there and sacrificed hours of driving to commute between Canton and Cleveland. She became an active member of Word of God, serving as Choir Director for both the Adult and Youth choirs, working in the Women’s Ministry, Altar Workers Ministry, Hospitality Ministry, Nursery Ministry, and anywhere else that help was needed. She was also instrumental in starting and running the church’s Vacation Bible School. It has been said that Juanita never met a stranger. Within five minutes of meeting someone, Juanita could strike up an encouraging conversation, share the Gospel, offer straightforward Biblical advice, discuss “Desperate Housewives” or “Wheel of Fortune,” exchange phone numbers – which she would really use to keep in touch – or sometimes just give you a good laugh when you needed one. She was kind, she was funny, she was loyal, she was creative, she was good at math, she was a skilled seamstress, she was a very good cook. She could be incredibly patient and incredibly generous, she was a wonderful friend, a loving and respectful daughter, a loving and devoted wife, and a fiercely proud and supportive mother. But most of all, she was a child of Christ.