Henrietta Sue Tucker

Henrietta Sue (Ford) Tucker – known affectionately by many as Henri and by others as Aunt Penny – was born on November 6, 1948, in Greenville, Texas to the late William Ford and Sue Ella Batie. She transitioned from this earthly life on Sunday, April 19.

Henrietta’s early childhood in the Darktown community of Greenville, Texas was marked by the death of her mother when she was 2 years old. Raised early on primarily by her grandmother, Ella Geters, and grandmother, she eventually moved to Dallas, Texas to live with her father’s brother and his wife, who effectively became her adoptive parents for the remainder of their lives. During this time she faithfully attend first, Hatcher Street Church of Christ, then Fourth Avenue Church of Christ. It was the latter where she met and married Willie J. Tucker, a union that produced three children and lasted nearly 58 years until his death in 2023.

Henrietta attended Paul Lawrence Dunbar Elementary School, Pearl C. Anderson Junior High School and graduated from Madison High School in Dallas, TX, where she was a member of the modern dance, drill, and track teams.

Henrietta initially began work at Cedar Crest Funeral Home in Southern Dallas. She eventually gained employment at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, where she would become the first black female manager in her region. She retired from full-time employment in the early 1990’s.

Henrietta accepted Christ at a young age and served faithfully through young and middle adulthood at the Fourth Avenue and Lawrence and Marder Churches of Christ. She regularly taught Sunday School and Ladies’ Bible Class, served in the kitchen ministry, sang in the church chorus, and routinely counseled young ladies and wives. During this time Henrietta also became a dedicated member of the National Preachers’ Wives organization. She devoted her later years of faith and service to the Central Pointe Church of Christ.

Henrietta was preceded in death by her loving husband: Willie Tucker; grandparents: James & Ella Batie, Ella Geters; parents: William Ford & Sue Ellas Batie; adoptive parents: Jesse & Arilla Geters; brother: Claxton Hayes; and sister: Barbara Chisolm.

She leaves to cherish her memory three children: Ida, William (LaShonda), and Weldon; granddaughter: Zeniyah; three brothers: Larry Batie (Ruth), Ezzard Hayes (Barbara), and Vic Hayes (Francine); (Sister) Cousin: Ethel Buckley; two grandsons-in-love: Stephen Hicks and Jeremiah Thomas; and an extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins, and sisters-in-love.

Henrietta Sue Tucker lived a life of strength, perseverance, faith, and enduring love. Her love of Christ was manifest through her devoted service as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, friend, and – most importantly – child of God.

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