Bryan Drury Scaff, a native and lifelong resident of Hamilton County, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021, from COVID-19 while working away from home in Vermillion, S.D. Scaff was born on April 30, 1981, in Valdosta, Ga., to Decar Scaff, Jr. and Eileen Drury Scaff. He shared the day and the date with his twin brother, Andrew Ragan Scaff, but, beyond the mischief that brothers of the same age might dabble in, the likeness pretty much ended there; one blond headed, one dark headed, one more reserved, one razor sharp. Likely, one of the hardest things in life living as a twin is to constantly be compared to or have the assumption made that the two of you were "just alike." Nothing could be further from the truth and Scaff was up to the challenge to prove it.
Following the devastating loss of his brother, Andrew, in January 2002, Scaff persevered. He met life head-on and boy, was he good at it. If you wondered if Scaff ever met a stranger, the answer would be: no. There were no strangers, because he was always quick to make sure he introduced himself first, so you would know who he was. Was he shy? Well, the answer to that would definitely be, no. Scaff had no time to be shy, because he was too busy making sure everyone was laughing and having a good time. He had a quick wit about him, loved a good joke and had a smile that would melt your heart. Given the opportunity, Scaff would tell you he was blessed. He was raised by parents who gave him a foundation and a belief in Jesus Christ. He would tell you he was blessed because on Oct. 18, 2014, he married the girl of his dreams, a woman who would be a mother to his son and give him two beautiful daughters; blessed, because he had a job and the opportunity to provide a good life for his family and blessed because of the many friends he met along the way of his short 40-year journey in this life.
Scaff was employed as a welding inspector in the oil and gas pipeline industry. When he was not working, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and riding in the woods. He enjoyed cooking and eating, for sure, but there was nothing that wet his appetite more than the knowledge that his Florida State Seminoles were going to be playing ball or pretty much anything FSU, because to Scaff, everyone knew the Seminoles were the best. In that regard, he gave as much grief as he got and his ability to laugh it all off was just one of the things that made him so lovable.
Scaff is survived by his beloved wife of seven years, Rachel Rogers Scaff; his son, Kyler Andrew Scaff and his two daughters, Maylee Kate Scaff and Brylee Grace Scaff, all of Jennings; his parents, Decar and Eileen Scaff, of Jennings; his brother, Decar Scaff, III (Malissa), of Idaho; his two sisters, Angela Boatwright (Billy) and Donna Scaff, all of Jennings; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Matt and Nancy Rogers, of Hahira, Ga. and extended family; nieces, nephews and a host of friends that will mourn his passing.
Graveside services were held on Monday, Oct. 4, at New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery near Jennings, with Pastor Jimmy McCullers and Bro. Spencer Corbett-Smith officiating. Harry T. Reid Funeral Home, of Jasper, was in charge of arrangements.