Lucy Scroggie

One Smart Cookie

Lucy Scroggie passed away on November 11, 2007 at age 72, but this year she will feed hungry children, shelter the homeless, and help make the world a better place.

Lucy E. Scroggie, PhD, was one smart cookie! She was born in South Carolina, and raised in Knoxville and Chattanooga. She graduated from East High School as Valedictorian. She received a BS in Chemistry from The University of Tennessee in 1957 and received many scholastic achievement awards. She earned her MS in Analytical Chemistry in 1959 and went on to the University of Texas of Austin for her PhD in 1961. Lucy worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Union Carbide before joining TVA. Lucy was an Analytical Chemist and a Research Chemist working in labs for industrial hygiene, air quality, and environmental chemistry. Before retiring in 1992, she served for 11 years as Project Manager and Quality Assurance in the Division of Natural Resource Engineering of TVA in Knoxville.

Lucy also had fun. She became a pilot in 1970 and was very active with Pilot International, holding many local offices and even as State Governor. She was an active woodworker, needle worker, calligrapher, and enjoyed photography. In retirement she was also active in researching family genealogy and served as an office volunteer for Knoxville Habitat for Humanity.

Lucy also loved her church, Fountain City United Methodist Church. She did not push her faith on others, but was quietly faithful in her own unassuming way. She was a member of the Homebuilders Sunday School Class and sang with the chancel choir. It might be safe to say that not everyone in the church even knew Lucy's name.

Lucy felt blessed by her life and all that she had been given. In 2004 she spent time reflecting on what was important in life and went to see a local attorney to plan her estate to benefit the people and things she held close. Jaws dropped when the church learned that upon her death she left the church over $600,000 for missions sponsored by the church or the Holston Conference.

After learning of Lucy's legacy, senior pastor, Jim Whedbee, Jay Garrison, Mary Frances Tucker and other church leaders called upon the Foundation to help the church properly invest the funds, provide tools to help the church develop a process to determine amounts available to spend, and determine uses worthy of Lucy's generosity.

According to Endowment Committee chairperson, Mary Frances Tucker, they are thrilled with the progress and the enthusiasm generated by this gift. Applications are being accepted by the Scroggie Committee through the end of January and Lucy's gift will continue making the world a better place, just as she did in life.