Julia Ann Tucker

Julia Ann Reynolds Tucker, lovingly known as "Mother Tucker", passed away Monday in Huntsville, AL., at 100 years of age. A native of Monroe County, AL, and a resident of Mobile for 66 years, Mrs. Tucker had resided in Huntsville, AL, for 12 years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charlie G. Reynolds and Mattie Thompson Reynolds; her husband, William Albert Tucker; her great-grandson, Leland Stinson and her son-in-law, Kenneth Beam. Survivors include three daughters, Patsy T. Stinson and husband, Leslie, Gaynell T. Beam, and Terry T. Fields and husband, Kenneth Wayne; nine grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren; one niece, Dolly Christine Reynolds Ramirez, who was like a daughter to her; two sisters-in-law, Mary Elizabeth Reynolds and Audrey Tucker Bliss; and, a host of nieces, nephews. Mrs. Tucker owned and operated the Mertz Child Day Care Center in Mobile for 37 years beginning in 1956, offering child care services. It became one of the first child care centers in Mobile County to be licensed, with programs daily serving up to 125 preschoolers and school age children. The center was also among the earliest in the state to be licensed to provide child care for infants and toddlers. Mrs. Tucker retired at 82. Julia Tucker had several other careers in Mobile County. She worked in the cake department at Malbis Bakery in Oakdale in the mid-1930s and at the Alabama Dry Docks & Shipbuilding company delivering parts during World War II. She also ran a boarding house during World War II, providing a home for young men from north Alabama and Mississippi who were waiting for their draft call. After the war, Mrs. Tucker managed the soda fountain at Albright & Wood Drugs at the Loop while taking nursing classes. She graduated from Southwest Trade Vocational School in 1954, a member of the second graduating class for Licensed Practical Nurses. She used her nursing skills working in Mobile as a private duty nurse and as a nursing aide in hospitals before attaining her LPN license. Mrs. Tucker was a member of Cottage Hill Baptist Church; the Elks Emblem Club; the Mobile Orchid Society; the American Business Women's Association D'Iberville Chapter, and was active with the Eastern Star Loop Chapter #348. She loved helping people, putting people to work, and encouraging young people to further their education. She often shared that her philosophy in life was "to pray as if it all depends on God and work as if it all depends on you" and she lived it well. Mother Tucker will be sadly missed by family and friends. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, 12 March 2011, with visitation from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. at /Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home in Mobile, AL, with the Rev. Mike Bedford officiating. Interment will be in Mobile Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Leslie Stinson, Jr., Albert Stinson, Kenneth Beam, Jr., Tom Beam, Greg Rawls, and Joe Baggett. Honorary pallbearers will be Joseph McEarchern and Michael Lee. Flowers are welcome, or a donation to a church or favorite charity can be made.