Dorothy Belle Tucker

Today we gather to celebrate the life of Dorothy Belle Tucker — our Bama. If you knew her, you know there was no one quite like her. She was independent, loving, and just the right amount of sassy. She had a gift for storytelling. From saying she helped Betsy Ross sew the American flag in a past life, to sharing ghost stories, truck-driving stories, and the adventures of raising her ornery children — she gave us laughter and memories that we will carry forever. But beyond the humor and the stories, Bama was the heart of our family. She was our matriarch. She loved hard and she loved deeply. Her life was not easy. After the heartbreaking loss of her husband, she raised four children on her own. She did whatever she had to do. She owned cafés and bars, she drove trucks, she worked long hours, and she worked until her body simply would not allow her to anymore. She was not afraid of hard work, and she was never afraid to start over if it meant providing for her family. That was who she was — determined, resilient, and fiercely devoted to the people she loved. Bama showed her love by taking care of others. She kept everyone fed — and not just fed but spoiled. If you walked into her home, you were going to eat. It didn’t matter who you were. She believed love looked like a full plate and a warm kitchen. Her faith was important to her, and it guided her life. Even in difficult seasons, she kept going. She met struggles head-on and refused to let them define her. She was strong in ways that many of us can only hope to be. For me personally, she was so much more than a grandmother. She was someone I genuinely looked up to. Watching her navigate so many careers, so many challenges, and still show up every single day with determination — it shaped me. She helped raise me. She helped raise my children. And I am so thankful that my kids got to spend such important, formative years with her. They knew her love. They knew her strength. They knew her stories. Even in her later years, when she lived at the Milam building, she still found purpose in caring for others. She loved overseeing the bingo program. It made her feel needed, useful, and helpful — and that is who she was to her core. She thrived when she was taking care of someone else. Bama leaves behind a legacy of resilience, faith, humor, and unconditional love. She taught us that you work hard. You provide. You take care of your family. You keep going. And you never lose your sense of humor along the way. We will miss her cooking. We will miss her stories. We will miss her sass. But most of all, we will miss her love. And while our hearts are heavy today, we are better because we were hers. Dorothy was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband, Donald Tucker; her parents, LeRoy and Ruby McKay; her son, Ernest Armstrong; her brothers, Ted Thompson, Bill McKay, and Donald McKay; and her sisters, Tiny Hendrix, Adline McKay, and Joyce McKay. She leaves behind a family that was the pride and joy of her life. She is survived by her son, Steve Armstrong and his wife Jamie; her daughter, Sandra Edwards; and her son, Russell Jones. Her legacy continues through her grandchildren: Samantha and her husband Casey Boshears, Cody Edwards, Colten and Shona Armstrong, Casey and Brynn Armstrong, Brock Armstrong, Brianna Etheridge, and Darian Campbell. And her absolute greatest treasures - her 11 great grandchildren: Addison, Anniston, Hudson, Leighton, Paxten, Hazel, Beckett, Lucchesse, Winney Belle, Jameson, and Zoey. They were the light of her life. She adored each one of them in her own special way. There was never a visit where she didn’t try to feed them, love on them, and remind them how proud she was. Being their “Bama” was one of her greatest honors, and they will carry her love with them for the rest of their lives.

Dorothy Belle Tucker

November 22, 1943 - February 26, 2026