| Marva Scott | |
| Names: | Marva Scott Marva Wingo Martha Scott Marva Johnson Mary Scott African Black Cat |
| Birth Name: | Marva Aniece Wingo |
| Birth Date: | November 21, 1937 |
| Birth Place: | Decatur, Georgia, U.S.[1] |
| Death Place: | Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Death Cause: | Cancer |
| Spouse: | Clesson H. Goodwin |
| Children: | 4 |
| Relatives: | Babs Wingo Ethel Johnson |
| Billed: | Detroit, Michigan |
| Debut: | 1954 |
| Retired: | 1979 |
Marva Aniece Goodwin (Wingo; November 21, 1937 - August 15, 2003), better known by the ring name Marva Scott,[2] was among the first Black female professional wrestlers in the United States.[3] She began wrestling in the early 1950s and her first reported match happened in 1954.[4] With her older sisters, Babs Wingo and Ethel Johnson, she was part of the first Black trio sister team.[5] Marva Scott was posthumously inducted into the Women’s Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2023.[1]
Scott began her career in the early 1950s at the age of 16.[6] She was promoted as Babs Wingo's sister, often in tag team bouts against Ethel Johnson.[7]
At one point, Scott became a bleach blonde while wrestling as "The African Black Cat".[7] Scott also tag-teamed with her sister Ethel, and together, they became tag team champions.[1]
Wrestling historian Jim Melby called Scott one of the great "teenage sensations" during the "Golden Age of Wrestling" ranking her among the top six female wrestlers of the era.[7]
Scott retired in 1979.[8] WWE named Marva 51 of the best wrestlers of all time in April 2021.[9]
Scott was born Marva Aniece Wingo in Decatur, Georgia, to Gladys Chase and Clifford Wingo[3] on November 21, 1937.[10] Scott’s sisters, Babs Wingo and Ethel Johnson, were also professional wrestlers.[1]
Scott was married to Clesson H. Goodwin and had four children.[11] Following her retirement, Scott was employed at the Training Institute of Central Ohio.[3]
Scott died of cancer on August 15, 2003, in Columbus, Ohio.[3]
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