Jean D. McRae

Jean Dale (Tucker) McRae was the eldest of two daughters born on September 10,1935, to the late Charles Tucker and Ozie (Johnson) Tucker in Newark, N.J. She departed this life on January 18, 2024, after an extended illness.
Jean was educated in the Newark Public School System and graduated from Central High School. She accepted Christ at an early age at Union Baptist Church in Newark, N.J. Union Baptist was one of five churches founded by Jean's grandfather, the late Rev. Thomas T. Tucker. In her youth, she was a member of a bowling league and a community dance troop. After graduating high school, she worked at Bell Labs where she worked on the first active communications satellite, Telstar. She also later worked at the Internal Revenue Service, and at Lockheed Martin before beginning her career with the City of Plainfield where she retired after 38 years of distinguished public service.
Jean met the love of her life and lifelong friend, the late Clinton (Jake) McRae, when she was five years old at the historic Baxter Terrace in Newark, N.J. Their loving union produced three children, Karen, Steven, and Tina, and they were married for 53 years before his death. Married on her twentieth birthday, the two of them shared a life of inseparable partnership, love, faith, adventure, and early activism in the Civil Rights Movement including participation in the original March on Washington in 1963 with their lifelong friends, Kathleen and Ronnie Johnson. Although Jake preceded Jean in death that did not deter her activism as she and Kathleen were often sought out for their reflections on participating in the March on
Washington. At the 50th anniversary of the March, they were interviewed by numerous news outlets from the Washington Post to Sky News, to gain their perspective on the civil rights movement and the photo seen around the world that made the headlines of Jet and Life magazines.
Jean was an exemplary 'family first' wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and a kind and caring woman who always had time to listen and laugh. Jean was respected and loved by all and openly extended the love in her heart and home to others. No one was a stranger to Jean.
Jean's beautiful life and lasting legacy will be cherished by her children, Karen McRae, Steven (Leslie) McRae, Tina (Paul) McRae-Phelps, her grandchildren Gabrielle and Steven Jr., her sister, Dolores Cross, her niece, Jane Cross, her nephew Thomas Cross, Jr.; her great-nephew, Jackson Cross; her sister-friends, Kathleen Johnson and Elsie Banks and their families; her beloved cousins, Francine Diggs, Ronald Parm, and Patricia Roper; her in-laws, Ronald Law, and Thomas Phelps; her cherished neighbors who were a special part of her extended family and a host of treasured relatives, and friends.
Special Tributes
Nana, you will forever hold a special place in our hearts, and we will never forget you. We will love you always and forever. We will hold closely all of our memories especially the late nights watching Survivor while eating sorbet and the car rides after school. We are at peace and grateful that you have reunited with your soulmate our Pop-Pop.
Love always and forever!
Gabrielle and Steven Jr. (Granddaughter and Grandson)
Many have commended us for standing in for Mom (and Dad) as they stood for us. We did so as a family and we would be remiss if we did not wholeheartedly acknowledge, thank, and commend Leslie and Paul for always being there for our parents as well.as Karen, Steven & Tina (Jake and Jean's Kids)