Mrs. Martha Kay Tucker, age 73, of Menlo, GA, passed away peacefully in her home on July 14th, 2024. Mrs. Tucker was born on April 29th, 1951, in Trion GA at the old Trion Hospital near what is now the Town Hall. She attended Trion High School where she graduated in 1969 as Valedictorian. On December 23rd, 1970, she married Ralph Edward Tucker in the living room of their small home, thus beginning a lifetime partnership that lasted 53 and a half years. On January 19th, 1972, the couple had their first and only child, Eric Shane. Work ethic was very important to Martha as she held a number of jobs while in school and during the early part of her marriage. After the birth of her son, she took 6 years off to spend time with him and focus on her young family. When Shane began school in 1978, Martha interviewed for and was hired at Bigelow Sanford (later known as Karastan/Bigelow) where she continued working in the office for the next 12 years. During her tenure there, she received numerous awards and commendations (including the prestigious Textile Citizen of the Year Award) for her job performance and reliability.
Then, on February 20th, 1990, she switched careers and began working in the Chattooga County Commissioner’s Office under Mr. Jim Parker. She eventually progressed to the position of County Clerk where she remained for the next 34 years until her official retirement on June 30th of 2024. During her time there, she worked for four different commissioners: the aforementioned Mr. Parker, Mr. Mike Dawson, Mr. Jason Winters, and the current commissioner, Mr. Blake Elsberry. She was known for her organizational skills, reliability, and integrity in serving the citizens of Chattooga County for almost three and a half decades. In addition to her work and family life, Mrs. Tucker was a founding member of Alpine Community Church which she attended for over 50 years. Her faith was strong and backed up by her many works. She taught Sunday School, led the youth group in various activities, organized Bible School, created Alpine’s “Old Timey Day”, and directed the youth Christmas program. She was also instrumental in the start-up of Alpine’s Live Nativity Scene over 40 years ago, which has now grown to inspiring over 1,000 visitors per year during the Christmas Season. Mrs. Tucker was preceded in death by her father, Mr. Horace McWhorter, her mother, Ms. Hilda McWhorter, and a brother, Mr. Stacy McWhorter.
She is survived by her husband of over 53 years, Ralph Tucker; son, Shane Tucker and his fiance Gina McGuire; sister Janet Schram and her spouse Jimmy; brother Richie McWhorter; brother Tracy McWhorter and his spouse Lisa; brother Anthony McWhorter; sister-in-law Jeannie Tucker; sister-in-law Becky McWhorter; niece Heather Roberts; nephews Tyson McWhorter, Ben McWhorter, Hampton McWhorter, Will McWhorter, Owen McWhorter, and Jason Tucker; and great-nieces Hannah Stewart, Rayne McWhorter, and Jolie McWhorter.
A short service will be held for Mrs. Tucker at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, July 17th at Alpine Community Church with Pastor Jeremy Stroop officiating. The family will receive visitors at Alpine two hours prior to the service from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM. Interment will follow at Alpine Cemetery with Richie McWhorter, Tracy McWhorter, Anthony McWhorter, Andy Roberts, Tyson McWhorter, Will McWhorter, and Charles Davis as active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers include all members and attendees of Alpine Community Church and the employees of the Chattooga County Commissioner’s Office.
“Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate”. Proverbs 31:31.
Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
