Geraldyne was born on September 6, 1936, the youngest of 5 children born to the late Henry C. Barley and Susie Eggleston Barley of Amelia, Virginia. She received her education in the Public Schools of Amelia County and graduated from Russell Grove High School in 1953. She joined the Little Union Baptist Church at an early age and served as the Financial Secretary for many years along with being on various committees.

After graduating from high school, she became a student at Virginia State College (now Virginia State University) in Petersburg, Virginia where she graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Library Science. Geraldyne was the first in her family to attend college.

During the time she was at Virginia State, Geraldyne became acquainted with her husband-to-be Franklin “Bunny” Scott. They met at a Sunday School Conference at Little Union Baptist Church, which was her family church. The two of them were married on December 24, 1955—Christmas Eve.  To this union, they were blessed with two children—Normajean and Neil, and were married for 53 years at the time of Franklin’s passing in 2009. She also cherished two grandchildren, Robert “Quin” Bracey V and Franklin Scott Bracey.

After graduating from Virginia State in 1957, Geraldyne taught first, second and third grade students in the segregated public school system in Amelia County until 1960. She taught in a two-room schoolhouse named Brick Church Elementary School.

In 1962, Geraldyne became the librarian for both Pocahontas Elementary and High Schools in the neighboring county of Powhatan. As a librarian, she was able to see every student once a week when they visited the library to check out books and look at magazines.  She assisted them in finding the right information for their research projects and class assignments. Geraldyne loved to encourage each student to strive for excellence in their classwork, assignments and activities.

She continued as librarian at Pocahontas Middle School with the integration of schools in Powhatan County. There, she established a Student Media Center and she became known as a Media Specialist. Her students would use this focal point of the school to learn how to use the first personal computers.  In the 1986-87 school year, Geraldyne was recognized as the Powhatan County Public Schools “Teacher of the Year” for her professionalism and ongoing dedication to education in the school district. After 35 years of teaching, she retired from Pocahontas Middle School in June of 1993. In her retirement years, she enjoyed watching her two grandsons grow up, reading, relaxing and country living. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry C. Barley and Susie Eggleston Barley; her husband, Franklin “Bunny” Scott; two brothers, Russell Barley and Milton Barley; and 3 sisters, Ordell (Paul) Kimbrough, Lillian (Walter) Patrick and Lois (William) Barnes. 

She is survived by her two children, Normajean S. Bracey of Midlothian, VA and Neil M. Scott of Henrico, VA; two grandchildren, Robert Allen Bracey V of Midlothian, VA and Franklin Scott Bracey (Claudia) of Richmond, VA; three sisters-in-law, Betty Barley of Amelia, VA, Fran Scott of Newport News, VA and Virginia (Sydney) Hayes of Jamaica, NY; three brothers-in-law Wilbert (Nedra) Scott of Cincinnati, OH, Richard (Ernestine) Scott of Chesterfield, VA, Leslie James II of Graniteville, SC; longtime friend Laverne Johnson of Amelia, VA; cherished cousin Ella Lipscomb of Richmond, VA and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services Friday, 11/21/2025 , 2 pm..Virginia Veterans Cemetery, 10300 Pridesville Rd., Amelia.  Those attending the service please arrive by 1:30 pm.

Public viewing Thursday, 11/20/25, 2 - 6 pm, at the V. Y. Scott Funeral Home, Amelia. 

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her memory to the Kevin Barley Scholarship Fund via the Scott Funeral Home.