Ella "Ann" Tucker

Ella Ann Strong Tucker, affectionately known as “Ma” or Ms. Ann” was born on December 20, 1952, to the late Elizabeth Farmer and Wilfred Way. Ella was raised by Henry Strong, whom she called daddy, and was the oldest child of Elizabeth and Henry Strong.  She transitioned from this earthly plane on October 3, 2023, at the age of 70.

Born  Walterboro South Carolina, Ann spent a brief moment in the Pompano Beach, Florida area, and she later returned and attended the Colleton County school system. As the oldest, she often served as a surrogate mother to her siblings, and that began her role as a mother to many. 

As a natural nurturer and teacher, one can always count on a hug, a meal (she loved to cook), a nd motherly advice coming from Ann. A teenage Ella met and later married Joe D. Tucker of Round O, SC. They were together for over 56 years, and through their union, they had four children: Omar, Joe Nathan, Joyce (Ricardo), and Marvin Tucker. Ella moved to Round O and joined Wesley Grove United Methodist Church. She credits her father-in-law Levi Tucker for introducing her to the word of Christ. Always dependable, she became a pillar of the church. She was active with the youth and Sunday School.  She was the PPRC President. She was over the Usher Board, sang on the Adult and Senior Choirs, and was an active member of the vision team. Since she had a passion for cooking, she was over the kitchen, and she served in any capacity needed to keep the church afloat and functioning properly. 
 
Many in the Colleton County community knew of Ella through many years of service at Wendy’s of Walterboro.  There she rose through the ranks and became a general manager, all the while adopting surrogate children as her own. Everyone was calling her “Ma”, and no one could differentiate between her biological children and her “adopted” children. She developed a loyal following of customers, and they became a part of her family, and after 23 years, she retired from the establishment. 

Ella was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings Cynthia Strong, Eddie Strong, James Donnel Cummings, Henry Strong Jr., and Johnnie Cummings. She is survived by her husband Joe and their four children, her sisters Mary Strong McMillian, Martha McWilliams (Troy), Janice Strong, Barbara Ann Deloach (Jamie), and Johnnie Mae Whitlock (Randolph). She has two grandchildren Kenyatta Williams (Jackie) and Kyndall Tucker, and four great-grandchildren Kaliyah Williams (deceased), Neveah Williams, Peyton Williams, and Joseph Williams. She is survived by her sisters-in-law Nellie Mae Tucker, Gertrude Tucker, and Theola Pitts, and one brother-in-law, Calvin Tucker.   

Her surviving “adopted” children include Timothy Floyd (Patricia), Tony Brown (Jill), Theresa Mustipher (Bill), Marilyn Trottier (Louis), Amanda Fogle-Carns (Henry), Crystal DeLonge (Mike), Jacqueline McMillian-Hall(Art), Kayoko Cooper, RoSonya Davis (Jimmy), Stacy Manigo, and many, many more. She has a prolific number of nieces and nephews, Grand-nieces and nephews, and great-grandnieces and nephews.                    
Ella was a compassionate spirit whose passion was caring for others. She was well-loved and She always provided support and love for her family and friends. During this time her family is grieving their loss, and they are remembering her in ways that honor her ever-loving maternal spirit. In life, some people walk this earth for a short time, but their departure reminds us that angels are watching over us. Ms. Ann rejoined her heavenly family and gained her wings.

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