Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Memory King Tucker (1897-1985)



  This outstandingly named politician is Memory King Tucker, a Georgia resident who served three terms in his state's legislature. With a name like "Memory King" (which sort of brings to mind a trivia-related television show) Tucker's name is unique in the annals of politics and like most of the men who have preceded him here, obscurity again prevails. Aside from a small biographical blurb in the Georgia Official and Statistical Register, 1963-1964, little else could be found on this intriguingly named Georgian. 
  Memory King Tucker was born in Statham, Barrow County, Georgia on September 19, 1897, the son of Memory James and Eudora Lanier Tucker. Memory J. Tucker served as the first Mayor of Statham, Georgia, so it can certainly be said that politics and odd names ran in the Tucker family! Memory K. Tucker attended schools local to the Barrow County area and later removed to Burke County, where he married Mildred Hill in February 1916. The couple was married for over 40 years before divorcing in November 1956, and this union produced four children: Mamie (died aged one in 1919), Susie (born 1920), Margaret (born 1924), and Mary Elizabeth (born 1927).
  Tucker first became active in Georgia political affairs in 1935, when he was elected to the Waynesboro, Georgia City Council. He served in this post until 1936 and two years later was elected as the Mayor of Waynesboro. Tucker served four years in office and in the years following his mayoral term became active in civic affairs in Burke County. From 1944-1952 Tucker served as a member of the Burke County Board of Commissioners as well as the chairman of the Hospital and Housing Authorities. Further honors were accorded to him when was appointed as the president of the Bank of Waynesboro in the 1950s.
  Tucker's political profile received a significant boost in 1958 when he was elected to the first of three terms in the Georgia State House of Representatives, representing Burke County. Tucker was re-elected to the legislature in 1961 and 1963, and a roster from the 1964 session (bearing Tucker's full name) is posted below.


  Very little is known of Memory K. Tucker's life after his service in the state legislature. His wife Margaret died in 1984 at age 88 and Tucker himself died on February 27, 1985, at age 87. He was subsequently buried in the Magnolia Cemetery in Waynesboro, Georgia alongside his wife and infant daughter. The portrait of him featured above was discovered in the earlier mentioned Georgia Official and Statistical Register, published in 1964.

4 comments:

  1. I believe my mother Mary Paulette Barnes was related to this man for I remember visiting his home, as well as Margret Blount's home and Mary Elizabeth Evans's home. I do believe he ran the bank in Waynesboro for some time. I also believe he did some farming too, mostly cotton in Gulf Ga. He also divorced in the 80's and stated in a hotel off of main street until his death.

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    1. Your mother, Paulette Barnes, grew up across the street from me. She was 3 years older than I and I adored her. She passed down her beautiful clothes to me...what a treasure. Paulette and my brother, John Dent, played together and were friends for many years until they both married other people and moved away.
      Elizabeth Dent Browning

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    2. I meant to include that Paulette was related to King Tucker's wife, Margaret Hill Tucker. I believe that Pauline Barnes was Margaret Hill's niece or daughter.

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  2. My mother, Novine Elizabeth Holcombe Dent, claimed King Tucker as her Uncle King. Her mother (Pearl Statham Tucker) was King Tucker's half sister. They had the same father and different mothers. My great grandmother's maiden name was Statham and the town was named after her family since they owned all the land that became Statham, Ga.

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