Jane Sellars “Jan” Scott who worked for Congressman Howard Coble for 20 years, died at her home on Jan. 31 at age 71 after a short battle with lung cancer.

Scott worked for Coble for 20 years, first on his campaign staff and then on his congressional staff.  There was a time when it was rare to see Coble at any public event without Scott by his side, working to keep him on schedule, which did not appear to be an easy job.

Before working for Coble, Scott was a member of the North Carolina Delegation to both the 1980 and 1984 Republican National Conventions where she supported President Ronald Reagan.

In 2000, Scott took a sabbatical from working for Coble to work for the Bush-Cheney campaign, handling scheduling and press duties for the three presidential debates.

After putting in 20 years with Coble, Scott started a second career with the United States Department of State Foreign Service Office where she worked for 10 years.  She served under President George W. Bush and President Barrack Obama before retiring in 2014 and returning home to Burlington where she was active in the community.

During her tenure with the State Department, she was posted to Denmark, China, Laos, East Timor, Iraq, the United Kingdom and Washington, DC.  For her work she earned both the Secretary’s Career Achievement Award and the Meritorious Honor Award.

North Carolina Gov. Jim Martin awarded her one of the state’s highest honors – the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

Scott was a graduate of Stratford College.  She is survived by her son Donnell Everett Scott IV of Burlington and his wife Tracy Scott and two grandsons.

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