Nancelia Elizabeth Scott Jackson passed away on Sunday, August 18, 2024, in Denver, Colorado, not quite making it to 100. She is best known in Gilpin County for being the granddaughter of William Pitts and the mother of retired judge Gary Jackson.
Nancelia was born October 27, 1924, in Chicago, Illinois, the second oldest of six brothers and sisters. Her parents were Paris Monroe and Elizabeth Geraldine Scott. Nancelia and her family migrated to Denver in 1926 from segregated Missouri and Illinois looking for better opportunities. Those opportunities included her grandfather, William Pitts, who was born into slavery in Missouri, building three homes in North Cherry Creek and a family cabin called Zephyr View in historic Lincoln Hills.
Growing up, Nancelia would spend summers at Zephyr View and attended the YMCA camp for African American girls called Nizhoni (Navajo for beautiful) that was next to Lincoln Hills.
At the age of fourteen, Nancelia started keeping a daily diary of her experiences at Lincoln Hills and kept it up throughout her life. Her journals are now being digitized for the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C.
Judge Jackson said that this firsthand account preserves memories of the Lincoln Hills resort that are important to Black Coloradans.
“It was having the American dream,” he said. “It was important, because so many Black people were working hard jobs. It was an opportunity to rejuvenate yourself. It was also, when I look back at it, spiritual — spiritual in terms of being in the wilderness and being close to nature and being in a place where there was no fear, there was no conflict.”
In 1945, Nancelia married Floyd M. Jackson, Jr., a World War II soldier stationed in Laramie, Wyoming. Floyd received three Bronze Stars for his valor and later in life a commendation signed by President Barack Obama.
On November 10, 1945, Gary Monroe was born, followed by Larry McGlother on February 15, 1947. The icing on the cake was the birth of Kimberle Mae on February 26, 1960.
Throughout her life, Nancelia was known for her letter-writing when she saw injustice. Those letters were sent to college presidents, mayors, governors and the Colorado Supreme Court Justices.
At age 99, Nancelia’s dream of a family reunion was realized when, on July 20, 2024, 71 family members gathered together at Zephyr View cabin in Lincoln Hills to celebrate her trailblazing life. The celebration included the receipt of a letter written to Nancelia at her Lincoln Hills mailing address from Vice President Kamala Harris, congratulating her on a job well done.
Nancelia is survived by her brothers, Warren Frederick Scott (Sandra) and Arthur Bishop Scott (Frazier); children, Hon. Gary Monroe Jackson (Regina), Larry McGlother Jackson (Jennifer), and Kimberle Mae Jackson-Butler; daughter-in-law, Sylvia L. Jackson; grandchildren, Jamal Brandon Jackson (Jamylah), Maya Bryonne Jackson-Moye (Bryan), Kaitlin Elizabeth Butler, Nicolle Alessandra Butler, Michael Mascotti (Robin) and Tara Lavizzo; great grandchildren, Myles Ahmir Jackson, Parker Tariq Jackson, Phoenix Simone LaRoux Moye, Skye Jordyn Jean Moye, Daunte Mascotti, Marissa Mascotti, Laila Lavizzo and Averie Lavizzo, and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those wishing to donate please consider Scott United Methodist Church, 2880 Garfield Street, Denver 80205, or the non-profit, LAW SCHOOL…Yes We Can, 950 South Cherry Street, Suite 508, Denver, Colorado 80426.
