Mrs. Mary Bailey Rucker, 92, of 1204 E. Cambridge Avenue, passed on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood, South Carolina. She was born on March 29, 1927 in Columbia, SC.  She was the daughter of the late Mamie Gantt Bailey and Arthur Brown Bailey.

She attended the public schools of Columbia and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1945.  She attended Benedict College in Columbia, SC where she graduated with a B.A. degree in Education in June, 1949.Upon graduation, she moved to Greenwood to take a job with the Greenwood School District.  She served as a teacher in the District from 1949 until her retirement in 1983.

She was a member of numerous organizations including:  the Rochelle Chapter No. 298 Order of the Eastern Star, the Epsilon Psi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, the Gardenia Garden Club, the Harley Subdivision Community Club, the Greenwood Chapter of AARP, the Greenwood County Association of Retired Teachers, the SC Education Associated Retired, and the National Education Association of Retired Teachers.

She served as a faithful member of Morris Chapel Baptist Church, where she sang in the Senior Musical Choir for many years and served in the Senior Missionary Society.  In addition, she was a long-time member of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Mass Choir.

She married Alvin Rucker, Sr. of Anderson, SC, in June, 1953.

She is survived by one son, Alvin Rucker, Jr. and daughter-in-law, Willetta Shepherd Rucker of Houston, TX; three grandsons, Alvin Justin Rucker, of Durham, NC, Julian Michael Rucker, of New Haven, CT and Aaron Martin Orion Rucker of Houston, TX; a sister, Julia Frances Bailey Smith of Charlotte, NC and a host of other family and friends.

A wake will be held on Tuesday, October 15, 2019, from 7 — 8 pm at Morris Chapel Baptist Church.

Homegoing Services will take place 11 am, Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at Morris Chapel Baptist Church. Burial will immediately follow at Evening Star Cemetery. A repast will immediately follow back at the Church.

The family is at the home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of Mrs. Rucker may be made to the United Negro College Fund.

Parks Funeral Home is assisting the Rucker Family.