Jackson Tyler Tucker, a native of Huntsville, Ala. and a Sigma Tau Gamma – Epsilon Phi fraternity brother at the University of Alabama, died Saturday, March 5 in New Orleans, La. He was 20 years old.
Jack dedicated much of his time in recent years to cultivating and advancing Sigma Tau Gamma’s Epsilon Phi chapter, which his predecessors founded at the university in 2012. He often spoke to friends and family of his dream of finding a permanent home for the fraternity in a house on one of Tuscaloosa’s fraternity rows – a dream that aligned with a possible career path he saw for himself in real estate. In pursuit of his goal, Jack asked many of the men in his life to join his fraternity brotherhood as honorary members.
Steve Latour, chief executive officer of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity, said in a statement posted by the fraternity on Facebook that Jack helped grow the Alabama chapter into a “real powerhouse” on campus. “I am so honored to have met Jack,” Latour said in the statement. “He has left a tremendous legacy at Alabama.”
Jack was born on May 26, 1995 to parents Kenneth Joe and Leigh Casey Tucker of Huntsville. He and his twin brother, Clayton Michael Tucker, grew up exploring North Alabama as often and in as many ways as they could. As children, they played in the woods near the Tucker home in southeastern Huntsville; as young adults, they hiked, camped and outfitted their four-wheel drive vehicles to tackle trails and back-country. Jack was a member of First Baptist Church, Huntsville. In addition to his fraternity, Jack’s interests included his Jeep Wrangler, riding dirt bikes and Alabama Crimson Tide football.
His family was immensely proud when the University of Alabama accepted Jack and he matriculated along with Clay in August 2013. The university and its culture have long united the Tuckers – Ken and Leigh, married since 1985, met in Tuscaloosa while in school; Jack’s older brother, William Joseph Tucker of Washington, D.C., graduated from the university in 2013.
Jack was preceded in death by his grandfather Bobby Tucker of Grant, Ala., and aunt, Dr. Stacy Tucker, of Scottsboro, Ala.
He is survived by his parents, Ken and Leigh; his brothers Will and Clay; his grandparents, Helen Tucker of Grant, Ala. and John and Carolyn Casey of Heflin, Ala.; aunts and uncles, Dr. Patrick Tucker of Scottsboro, Robin and Lynne Scott of Heflin, Patrick and Beverly Casey of Heflin; his close cousins, Madeline and J.P. Tucker of Scottsboro; his girlfriend, Kelsey Daugherty of Tuscaloosa; and many additional cousins, relatives and friends.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 10 at Laughlin Service Funeral Home, and from 12 noon to 1 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church, Huntsville. The funeral service will immediately follow at the church with Pastor Travis Collins and Minister to Students, Jamie Mackey, officiating. Burial will be in Free Home Cemetery, Grant, Alabama, followed by a reception at First Baptist Church of Grant.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to FBC Student Missions, First Baptist Church, 600 Governors Drive, Huntsville, AL 35801 or a favorite charity.
