Extracted from The News-Star (Monroe, LA)
Tuesday, March 7, 2006

LILLIE MAE HEAD TUCKER

Southern Funeral Home
Winnfield, LA

Lillie Mae Head Tucker, 84, died March 4, 2006, in Winnfield.

She was born at home in Sikes on July 18, 1921, to Walter and Bertha Erskines Head. A member of God's church, her name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life. She regularly attended Hart Assembly of God.

Mother to ten children (two sets of twins), she endured hardship and loss with faith, fortitude and good humor. A gardener and quilter, she was beloved and admired for her sense of family and community and for her upbeat outlook, beautiful meals, jellies, work ethic and strength. A grandson-in-law once joked that at her death, people would be crying around an empty biscuit pan, and it's true, everyone will miss the blessed gifts of her hands and heart, and how she remembered everyone's favorite, center biscuit, dumplings or chocolate oatmeal cookies. The day she died, she cooked and baked. Lillie Mae went to Sikes School. A retired nurse's aide, in the '50s she and her husband had a country store in West Monroe.

She was preceded in death by husband, Houston Alson Tucker (married 1/30/37); daughter, Wilma Jordan; sons, Marcus, Ronald and Donald; sisters, Violet Whitaker, Rosa Howell, Colleen Parker, and Head brothers Marshall, Onus, Isaac and Jack, and great granddaughter Ashley Ballard.

She is survived by sons, Lonnie and Connie (Adell), Tommy (Judy), Rick (Darlene), and daughters, Debbie Simpson (Steve), and Alice Coonce (John); also by grandchildren, Becky Shell, Onnie and Robert Jordan, Teresa Tucker, Robin Cater, Corey Tucker, Deann Crouch, Johnny and Chet Tucker, Todd Tucker, Toya Armstrong, Angel Lanier, Rhonda Stone, Sarah Gresham, Troy Tucker and Deena Garcia. She has twenty-seven great grandchildren and three great-greats.

Pallbearers are Onnie and Robert Jordan, Justin Shell, Corey Tucker, Johnny Tucker and Todd Tucker.

Honorary pallbearers are Jarrod Armstrong, Laverl Shell, James Shell, Steve Simpson. Toya Armstrong will sing ``I Need No Mansion Here'' and ``Milky Way''.

Services are under the direction of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield where the family will receive friends Monday 5:00 until 9:00 PM and 8:00 until 10:00 AM Tuesday. Services are 10:00 AM, Tuesday at the funeral home with Bros. John Trotter and Wallace Ingles officiating. Burial is at Friendship Cemetery, Sikes. Family and friends can go to Lillie's house after to share food and memories of our beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt and friend.

Special thanks to the staff of Winn Parish Medical Center and Dr. Dupree.

Friends may express messages of condolence online by visiting www.southernfuneralhome.com.