Ida May (WALKER) TUCKER Biography

by Lisa (TUCKER) MELVIN (1999)

 

Ida May WALKER was born 31 Aug 1858. She was an "old maid schoolteacher" in Conyers, Rockdale County, Georgia. There were two little "motherless" TUCKER boys in her class, and she felt so sorry for these little fellows that she ended up marrying their father, Benjamin Franklin TUCKER. He and Ida married on 15 Dec 1897, when Ida was 39 years old. Benjamin was born on 6 June 1858. He operated a warehouse in Conyers, Georgia.

That is the family story… Research shows that there were actually five motherless TUCKER children, their mother, Lou Maddox (MITCHELL) TUCKER having died. The other children were girls. I do not know if this means that the girls did not attend school, were sent to a separate school, or if Ida just had a soft spot for little boys. The "motherless" children were Otto, Pearl, Madison II, Olive and Elizabeth TUCKER.

Benjamin and Ida had one child of their own, my grandfather Thomas Walker TUCKER, Sr., who was born on 31 Jan 1899 in Conyers, Rockdale County, Georgia. He was called "Walker." Walker married Susie Brooks SMITH on 25 August 1920. Susie was born in January 1901 to Charles W. SMITH and Susan A. "Sudie" BROOKS of LaGrange, Troup County, Georgia. Susie died on 16 April 1981 and was buried in the Woodville Cemetery, Leon County, Florida.

Walker and Susie had one child, Thomas Walker TUCKER, Jr., who was born 5 July 1922 in LaGrange, Troup County, Georgia. They divorced not long after his birth and the family lost contact with Walker. We think that he died during the depression in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. (Interesting thought…if he has not died he would have been 100 years old this past Sunday.) However, Susie was on good terms with her in-laws and her son grew up close to his grandfather, Benjamin TUCKER.

Thomas Walker TUCKER, Jr. married Mary Joyce RAHN on 16 August 1941. She was born on 2 January 1920. They had four children, all daughters. I am the third daughter, Elisabeth TUCKER MELVIN (I go by Lisa). My father, died on 29 November 1971. My mother died on 18 October 1997. Both were buried in Woodville Cemetery, Leon County, Florida.

According to a WALKER cousin, who still lives in Conyers, Georgia, Benjamin Franklin TUCKER and Ida May (WALKER) TUCKER were buried in the Smyrna Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Conyers, Rockdale County, Georgia. He had contacted someone who was still living that remembered Ida as having always worn high-necked dresses.

I have been told that the Methodist Church in Conyers, Georgia has a memorial day set aside in memory of Ida May (WALKER) TUCKER. She was also a member of the John McIntosh Chapter of the DAR in Conyers, Rockdale County, Georgia.

 

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