From the moment of her birth on January 18, 1946 through the day of her death, November 18, 2021, God had meticulously planned the life of Cheryll A. Scott.
The third child born to her parents, the family lived in Portland, Maine until they relocated to New Havenwhen Cheryll was a teenager. She attended Hillhouse High School before going to Wilbur Force University to study psychology and criminal justice.
Cheryll’s story broadly unfolded when she returned to Connecticut after college and immersed herself in the community. She was hired at Yale-New Haven Hospital in 1970 and worked as a neurotechnologist for a remarkable forty years, retiring in 2011 with a stellar record. As a young adult, she modeled professionally for Harold’s Bridal Shop. Cheryll’s compassion for others, her desire to help those struggling with either medical or societal challenges and her internal drive to do more in the community led her to the Roger Sherman House, a halfway house for ex-offenders re-entering society and to Chapel Haven where she worked for 20 years with individuals who suffered traumatic brain injuries. A hard-working, outspoken, bright and industrious woman, Cheryll did not limit herself to her paid positions, but rather, had the innate capacity to fix just about anything. She refurbished numerous pieces of household furnishings and over time, was commissioned to bring such talents to the corporate world. She did so on her own terms as an entrepreneur and did not allow others to determine her own worth. Her artistic mind allowed her to sew or transform any kind of garment and did so in a way that pleased family and friends. Cheryll exuded confidence evidenced by her broad smiles and words of satisfaction when she accomplished a task or masterfully used her untapped artistic skills.
Cheryll loved the Lord. Her spiritual life was paramount to her very being. She stood on God’s principles and used these to guide her Christian journey. She continuously strived to live a Christian life and instilled these values in her daughter, grand-daughter and other family members. She was a lifelong and dedicated member of Varick AME Zion Church, where she served as a Trustee for 15 years. This very vibrant woman possessed a lot of energy and willingly took on any task expected of her. Her practical wisdom, deep knowledge of the church’s history and her creative thinking skills allowed her to often offer problem-solving solutions and she was never apprehensive or afraid to lead the charge with projects that were daunting.
Cheryll had an incredible way of making others feel special. Her love was not simply stated but demonstrated in tangible ways such as beautifully designed hand-crafted gifts, mementoes and cards. She believed in the power of the “pen” and used this to convey her love and care. She had a generous spirit that extended far beyond her immediate family because it was important to her that others knew how she felt about them. She embraced her role as the family matriarch with dignity, grace and fluidity, (although it was not necessarily a role she wanted). Her generous spirit and her consistent desire to maintain relationships with family members near and far is a manifestation of this.
An avid reader, Cheryll prided herself on reading up to one hundred novels yearly and especially loved books written by Sidney Sheldon and female African-American authors. Cheryll, a life-long learner, kept abreast of what was happening in the world around her by reading four newspapers daily and watching a broad spectrum of local and national news. Cheryll valued the world of arts, theatre and travel. She rarely missed concerts on the New Haven Green, enjoying the comraderies of friends, family and the New Haven community. Her body quickly became alive at the smooth sounds of jazz and she was in her glory whenever she attended plays on Broadway. Her love of cultural experiences took her overseas to several Caribbean Islands through a number of cruises, multiple trips to Jamaica with her husband Matthew Byrd, vacations in Mexico and the Bahamas with her daughter and friends and in the not so distant past, a wonderful trip to Spain with friends.
Cheryll’s vibrant disposition which often filled the air with much joy, her ability to take the mundane and create laughter, her unconditional love for others and her fiercely independent spirit will be sorely missed by the loves her life, her loving daughter, Raquel Cooper; her adoring grand-daughter, Alana Cooper who brought such sunshine to her life; and her son-in-love, Kenneth Cooper who she loved dearly. Also mourning her untimely departure from this earth are Bessie Spann, Sarah West, many nieces and nephews, her four close friends, Michele Williams, Marie Manson, Linda Vereen and Sheila Carmon. Cheryll was preceded in death by her husband, Matthew Byrd; her parents Sylvester and Willie Spann; and her sisters, Brenda Branham, Leslie Jackson, and Melanie Spann.
Rest in Perfect Peace in the gentle arms of our Lord and Savior!
A memorial service will take place Friday, November 26, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Varick AME Church, 242 Dixwell Ave, New Haven, CT 06511. Friends may call at the church from 10:00 – 11:00 AM. Services by Howard K. Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06511. To leave a message for the Scott family, please visit, www.hkhfuneralservices.com