Buckingham Notables: Lucy Scruggs, Part V
Lucy Scruggs, Death Record
Click here to catch up: Buckingham Notables: Lucy Scruggs, Part I
Slate River Ramblings’ readers have been charmed by Lucy Scruggs’ life story, including Tom Almquist, who quickly produced her death certificate after reading Part IV.
In it, we learn that Lucy lived to be 110, dying in Prince Edward County, Virginia on March 4, 1964. What a life she led! Humble as it was, the former slave ultimately owned her own home outside of Arvonia.
Prior to her death, she was taken from Buckingham County to Southside Hospital in Farmville, where she died of a heart attack. The doctor noted that she had 1st degree burns on both legs. Did she fall near the fireplace, precipitating her death?
Her parents were given as Lou and Jim Reese. Her deceased husband as Lee Scruggs. Her son, Oscar, provided the details for the death record and she was buried in Highway Mission Holiness Church cemetery in Buckingham County.
A long and thoughtful life was laid to rest. How fortunate that Boyce Loving and The Daily Progress preserved her story for us to discover nearly sixty years later.
Many thanks to Tom Almquist and to Phil James for sharing Lucy’s interview.
slate river ramblings . . . . 
Lucy Scruggs’ story is rare and wonderful. So glad it was preserved. Thanks, again, to Phil James for finding it. Joanne
Thanks! Phil for posting great great great gmom’s death certificate. I wish I knew her grandfather’s name, and their slave owners’s name.
Fantastic story, thanks for sharing
Great story everyone. Thanks so much for sharing