Booker Scruggs

Booker T. Scruggs II, Chattanooga’s renowned and respected educator and musician, unexpectedly departed his life on Monday evening, June 5, 2017. Scruggs, the only child of the late Booker and Mable Scruggs, grew up on the west side in College Hill Courts and the Riverside Drive neighborhood. Booker was a 1960 graduate of Howard High School. He received both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Clark College in Atlanta, Ga. After graduating from college, Booker returned to Chattanooga to give back to his community by investing his time and resources into the lives of the youth in the city. Most of his contributions, by his own plan, went unknown because of his quiet, genuine and generous spirit of love and giving for children and his hometown of Chattanooga. During his marriage to Johnnie Lynn Haslerig, his son, Cameroun was born. His birth was one of the proudest moments in Booker’s life. He deeply loved his only child. Booker was a devoted member of Bethlehem-Wiley United Methodist Church. He also served many students and colleagues at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in his position as adjunct professor of sociology. He was the director of the Upward Bound Program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he served for 36 years. The Chattanooga community will remember Booker as host of “Point of View,” the world’s longest running locally produced television program where he addressed issues from the arts to education as well as other community concerns and events. He retired as host of this program in 2015. Booker loved music and as clarinetist/saxophonist, he played clarinet on two albums of gospel and inspirational music-- "My Tribute" and "Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled." He was a member of several musical groups and preformed around Chattanooga and across the nation. Booker was very active in community organizations including the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and the NAACP. Booker leaves his deepest love and blessings to his devoted son, Cameroun H. Scruggs, of Chattanooga, Tenn.; and grandson, Marquise K. Scruggs, of Knoxville, Tenn.; His loving memories will always reign high for Lillie Wills, of Chickamauga, Ga., the lady in his life who was his lifelong friend and companion; first cousins, Deborah Walton, of New York, N.Y., Roberta B. Oglesby, of Chattanooga, Tenn., Harold (Sol) Eaton, of Lanham, Md., and Winston (Charlene) Tollett, of Shreveport, La.; and many other family and friends. The family will greet visitors today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center located at 200 East Martin Luther King Boulevard. The Omega Service of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity will start at 5:30 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Bethlehem-Wiley United Methodist Church located at 504 Lookout Street. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Bethlehem-Wiley United Methodist Church Booker T. Scruggs, II Youth Foundation at 504 Lookout Street, Chattanooga, Tenn., 37403. Arrangements entrusted to Hardwick & Sons Funeral Home, www.hardwickandsonsfh.com.