Shirley Rucker Memorial Booklet

Sunrise

February 4, 1936

Saturday, November 14, 2020

Visitation - 10:00AM | Celebration of Life - 11:00 AM

Greater St. John Baptist Church

16601 South Wolcott | Markham, IL 60428 Pastor Anthony C. Frazier, Officiating Rev. Reginald W. Williams Jr, Eulogist

Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of University Park

Sunset

November 3, 2020

Shirley Jean Rucker was born February 4, 1936, the third of seven children born to the late Walter and Bernice Ervin in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. Shirley accepted Christ at the age of nine and possessed a special gift of working to assure that her family remained close. Although Shirley only attended school until third grade, she would have one to know she was blessed with a degree in common sense.

Shirley married Willie (BaeBae) Rucker and 8 children were born into this union. In 1970, Shirley moved her family to Harvey, Illinois from Belzoni, Mississippi, were her in-laws welcomed her and her children with open arms. As a promise to her husband in his death, Shirley had the purposeful desire to take care of her family. Shirley was gainfully employed at CEDA, the University of Illinois and NutiSystem amongst others.

Shirley was a member of First Baptist Church of University Park for over 20 years and shared her love for Christ with everyone that she encountered.

Shirley took pride in being of service and helping others. Being an avid lover of thrift stores, Shirley wanted to follow one of her biggest dreams which was to work for herself as an entrepreneur. Shirley opened a small used clothing store that she quickly outgrew which caused her to relocate. For over ten years Shirley credited herself and was proud to have owned the largest resale store in the south suburbs, the Halsted Variety Resale Shop which sold anything that one could imagine. Shirley loved nothing more than to spend time with her children and her grandchildren who were her most prized possessions. She was amazing at sharing history and wisdom through story telling about the things that happened in her life and while doing so, had an amazing sense of humor that she passed down though generations.

In her home on November 3, 2020 surrounded by the love and care of her children and grandchildren God welcomed our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt peacefully into her eternal resting place. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents (Walter Sr. & Bernice Ervin), husband (Willie Rucker), children (Anna and Jerry Rucker Sr) grandsons (Patrick & Jerry Rucker Jr) Siblings: Walter(Bessie)Ervin, Ellean(John) Shavers, motherin-law’s ( Ora Rucker and Anna Johnson), father-in-law’s (Willie Rucker Sr. and Richard Johnson Sr), Sister-in-law’s, (Fannie Dozier, Clara B. Johnson, Ora Marshall, Creola Johnson, Lilly Craig & Debbie Bailey Rucker) and brother-in-law’s (Robert Vinson and Richard JohnsonJr.).

Shirley lived a full life and for all that knew her, that light has flickered out. Shirley leaves to cherish her legacy her children Dr. Willie (Valerie) Rucker, Bobbie (George) Rhone, Linda (Wallace) Rowe, Kenny (Transandra) Rucker, Donna Rucker, Keith (Cathy) Rucker, daughter- in law (Martha Rucker), Aunt( Mary Jordan), siblings (Ethel Mae Hampton, Bobbie Jean Ervin, Betty (Jerry) McFall, & Don (Mary) Ervin). Her in-law’s (Eugene Vinson, Rose (Richard) Longhorn-Mims, Bobbie Johnson, Mary Parrot, Roosevelt (Lisa) Johnson, John (Ann) Johnson, Terrance (Mary Jo) Rucker, and Kenny (Dawn) Rucker), 23 grandchildren, a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, honorary daughters (Telanee and Pamela) & special friends (Juanita and Nancy).

“When Great Trees Fall ”

by Maya Angelou

When great trees fall, rocks on distant hills shudder, lions hunker down in tall grasses, and even elephants lumber after safety.

When great trees fall in forests, small things recoil into silence, their senses eroded beyond fear.

When great souls die, the air around us becomes light, rare, sterile.

We breathe, briefly.

Our eyes, briefly, see with a hurtful clarity.

Our memory, suddenly sharpened, examines, gnaws on kind words unsaid, promised walks never taken.

Great souls die and our reality, bound to them, takes leave of us.

Our souls, dependent upon their nurture, now shrink, wizened.

Our minds, formed and informed by their radiance, fall away.

We are not so much maddened as reduced to the unutterable ignorance of dark, cold caves.

And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration.

Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us.

They existed. They existed.

We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.

Order

OF SERVICE Prelude

Processional “Jesus Promised Me a Home Over There” Musical Selection Pastor Denise Clark-Jackson Scriptures Eboni Rucker Prayer of Comfort Larry Dozier Resolutions Life Reflections Jasmine Gatson Family Tribute Kenny Rucker Family Remarks Please limit to 2 minutes Musical Selection “I Shall Wear A Crown” Words of Comfort Rev. Reginald W. Williams, Jr.

Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of University Park

Recessional Private Interment Washington Memorial Gardens Homewood, Illinois Repast At this time there will not be a repast.

Cherished Memories

Cherished Memories

Tributes

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. “He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man’s measurement, which the angel was using. The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.

The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone

who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

-Willie (Feet First) Mama you did all that was possible to teach your children and everyone else how to survive. Now it’s up to us. You told me “Bobbie, mama’s tired” and God heard your cry. I will never forget he things you told me, saying “mama telling you this for your own good” and I would say “ok mama”. Mama I love you and I know you are always with us. Job well done. Rest up my queen -Bobbie Momma, thank you for teaching me what it means to be Christlike. You walked tall and humble, carrying a big stick, but yet you spoke so softly, while teaching great wisdom. Thank you for showing me how to live and how to die. I love you momma! – Linda The greatest gift I received from you momma besides life, wisdom and knowledge was hearing the words that you spoke to me that I was a good son. Love you, Moms -Kenny Momma, as long as I live, you live! Your blood flows in my veins! Thank you, Momma! I love you! -Donna Momma as your youngest child, you gave us every tool to put on our tool belt that we would need to survive in this crazy world. There is no excuse for us not to succeed, because you didn’t just tell us how to do things, you showed us! You didn’t send or drop us at church, you went with us. Thank you, Momma, for the tools of life and the knowledge and wisdom that you drop on us, & all this necessity of life that you know we needed to be able to sacrifice and survive! “Sweet Rest, Shirley Will” -Keith God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be, so he put his arms around you and whispered, come to me. With tearful eyes, we watched you and saw you pass away. And although we love you dearly we couldn’t make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, he only takes the best. -Love your Grandsons Grandma, you hit us really hard with this. It’s so hard to except that the person that meant the most to us is really gone. Behind us, you always stood, NO MATTER WHAT. You always told us that you lived for your grandkids. But now that you are gone, we will pick up the stick & live on for you. Thank you for every lesson that was followed by your words of wisdom. We will truly miss your presence, yet we will continue to carry on your legacy. -Love your Granddaughters Grandma, you’re are the best, you taught me how to be everything that I am today. You showed me how to love and pray. That’s how you mold from clay. You talked about this day. You said don’t cry, just pray that God would put us in a better place. I’ll love you always and understand that you couldn’t stay. Your love is pure and full of grace. I love grandma and wouldn’t have it any other way! -Marla You were ready for your wings; my heart was not but that’s where I’ll keep you forever. -Eboni

Cherished Memories

“I’m Free”

Don’t grieve for me for now I’m free, I’m following the path God laid for me.

I took His hand when I heard Him call: I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way; I found my place at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void Then fill it with remembered joys.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, Ah yes, these things I too shall miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow: I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life’s been full, I savoured much; Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.

Perhaps my life seemed all too brief: Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me; God wanted me now, He set me free.

Pallbearers

Greg Hampton, Rodney Montgomery, Johnnie McCaskel Jr., Marquill Willingham, Kenny Rucker Jr, Keith Rucker Jr, Joshua McCaskel, Willie Sawyer, Wil Frye, Jordan Rucker, Aaeron Rucker, Elijah Rucker, Wallace Rowe Jr, Adam Rucker

Honorary Pallbearers

Dr. Willie Rucker, Kenny Rucker, Keith Rucker Sr, Don Ervin, Jerry McFall, Wallace Rowe, George Rhone, Roosevelt Johnson, John Johnson, Kenneth Rucker

Acknowledgement if Thanks

The family of Mrs. Shirley J. Rucker wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation the many comforting messages, prayers, visits and the many expressions of concerned kindness at this time of bereavement. The Rucker Family will host a memorial for our beloved once the pandemic is over.

Arrangements Entrusted to:

175 W. 159th Street | Harvey, IL 60426 (708) 331-0310