Earnest Tucker » Family Directory

Earnest Tucker was born in Memphis, TN on February 25, 1916. His parents were George and Georgia Tucker. Earnest’s Father and mother separated when Earnest was a young child.

Georgia worked as a maid. Earnest was one of her three sons. Earnest’s siblings included one younger brother Honey, born in 1918 and one older brother Willie born in 1914. Honey died as a toddler and Willie may have died in 1944 at the age of 30. The 1930 Census does not list Honey and Willie. As the only surviving child, Earnest had to take on greater responsibility after the death of his brothers. He attended Booker T. Washington, H.S. and graduated around 1935.

In 1930 Census, a person named Earnest Tucker (14 years old) is listed as living with the Underwood Family, Sam and Eliza at 359 Georgia. Georgia Tucker married Bennie Spates during the 1930s. In 1938, Georgia and Bennie Spates were listed in the City of Memphis Directory as living at 513 E. Georgia Avenue. Earnest’s Social Security Application also indicated this same address.

According to Census records the family lived in several locations in South Memphis. Initially as renters and later Georgia Tucker Spates purchased a home at 642 Lauderdale and ultimately a home at 1047 Latham.

Earnest Tucker and Hattie Jefferson met in 1951 and married in 1953. The were introduced by a mutual friend. They moved to 591 Walker Avenue. Their neighborhood was solidly middle class and their neighbors were factory workers, postal employees, teachers, attorneys and ministers; all homeowners in the well-kept community. The neighborhood school, Walker Elementary, still had a few white children attending and then later became an all black school.

From this union there were two sons, Jimmie and Paul, and one daughter, Georgia Faye. Jimmie was born on February 9, 1954, Faye was born on December 2, 1955 and Paul was born on July 15, 1960.

Earnest worked at a container company during the late 1950’s until he was injured and had to take a leave of absence. During the 1960’s and 1970’s Earnest was employed at L. T. Barringer Cotton Co. He worked on Cotton Row for more than 20 years as a chauffeur and messenger. He was a personable, resourceful, and thoughtful individual, and he interacted well with people. He always treated others with respect, and he wanted to be respected, as well.

Earnest typically went to work very early in the morning. Earnest and Hattie juggled their work schedules so that one of them — if not both — was always involved with the kids. Earnest took his family to baseball games, and he taught them about his coin collection. The family always had dinner together and Earnest typically cooked dinner for the family on Sundays. Despite the racial inequalities of the time, Earnest and Hattie were always very encouraging and made their children aware that if they worked hard and got a good education, they could do anything they wanted to do in life.

Earnest assisted his son Jimmie with his paper route from 1966 to 1968. Jimmie started delivering the Press-Scimitar every day after school when he was about 12. Jimmie would start at one end of the route, Earnest would start at the other end, and they would meet in the middle. Jimmie learned how to collect payments, keep records, behave diplomatically  — it was good training for how to be a successful businessperson.

Earnest was not a college educated man, but he was very intelligent and read a lot, and he strongly supported and valued education. Earnest was instrumental in helping Jimmie apply to the LawrencevilIe School in Lawrenceville, NJ. Jimmie received a scholarship but the financial and moral support of his family were also critical to his success. Earnest did all he could to make it possible for Jimmie to attend the school which was over a thousand miles away from Memphis. Jimmie was only 14 years old at that time.

In his early 70’s at the age of 55, Earnest flew to the Lawrenceville School to visit Jimmie. Earnest and the family also traveled to Lawrenceville for Jimmie’s graduation in May of 1973.

Earnest retired from the L. T. Barringer Cotton Company in 1981 at the age of 65. He spent his retirement years enjoying the company of his wife, Hattie, and spent extensive time with his grandchildren. He continued to expand his coin collection and followed the Cardinals baseball team. Occasionally, Earnest and Hattie would visit Earnest’s family in St. Louis.

Earnest pasted away in 1995 at the age of 79. Jimmie had moved back to Memphis from New York a few months earlier and started his architecture firm. Father and son had the opportunity to spend quality time together during those months.