Reverend Henry B. "Sonny" Tucker

Reverend Henry "Sonny" B. Tucker, age 88, passed into eternal life on September 22, 2025. Reverend Tucker was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and grew up in Columbus, Mississippi. He was a member of the undefeated 1959 University of Southern Mississippi football team and was a member of the University of Southern Mississippi Football Hall of Fame.

He was honored in October, 2000, by the All - American Football Foundation as their recipient of the Bill Wade Unsung Hero Award.

He received a B.A. Degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kentucky, and a Master of Divinity Degree from Mid-America Theological Seminary. He was a graduate of numerous military schools and was a graduate of the Foreign Service Institute of the State Department, Washington, D.C.

Reverend Tucker was an infantry soldier for over twenty years, having served as a Reconnaissance Platoon Leader, Company Commander, and District Senior Advisor in the Republic of Vietnam during the periods 1964-66 and 1969-70. He served as District Senior Advisor in Vietnam under the late legendary John Paul Vann, who was the subject of Neil Sheehan's Pulitzer Prize winning national best selling book, "A Bright Shining Lie".

Reverend Tucker's combat experiences are detailed in the book, "Beyond Combat" by Brigadier General Jim Hutchens now in its third printing. The Battle of Hill 65 on 8 November 1965, in which Captain Tucker was the Commanding Officer was retold in the award winning song "8th November" which was Country Music's runner up Song of the Year and Documentary of the Year in 2006.

Reverend Tucker was the Executive Officer of General Colin Powell, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and former Secretary of State. General Powell wrote of their friendship in his best-selling autobiography, "My American Journey"
Reverend Tucker's awards and decorations included the Silver Star, America's third highest award for bravery on the battlefield, four Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry (Vietnam's equivalent to America's Silver Star), three Bronze Stars, the Legion of Merit, and the Meritorious Service Medal plus numerous other military awards.

Reverend Tucker's unit received the first Presidential Unit citation in Vietnam for actions engaging hostile forces on Hill 65, on November 8, 1965, in the republic of South Vietnam. Two of his soldiers were the first soldiers in the Vietnam Conflict to receive our nation's highest award for bravery, the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Reverend Tucker retired from the United States Army in February 1981 and entered Seminary. After graduating from Seminary in December 1984, he served as Associate Pastor at Kirby Woods Baptist Church, Memphis, Tennessee and as Minister of Pastoral Care at Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tennessee. He retired in April 2002. After retiring he continued to teach two Bible Study Classes at Bellevue Baptist Church, served as Chaplain of Bellevue Woods and Preached throughout the Southern Baptist Convention.

Reverend Tucker was preceded in death by his college sweetheart, best friend and wife of 62 years, the former Loretta Beths of Biloxi, Mississippi.

He leaves one daughter, Bettina Estoria Tucker, who resides in Germantown, Tennessee.

A gathering of family and friends for Sonny will be held on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38119.

Funeral services for Reverend Tucker will be held on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 12:00 PM, at Bellevue Baptist Church, 2000 Appling Rd, Cordova, TN 38016. The family will receive friends prior to the service, beginning at 11:00 AM, at the church. Burial with Military Honors will occur in West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery following the service.