Romans 14:8 " For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's."
GOD ONLY TAKES THE BEST
God saw he was getting tired and a cure was not to be
So he put his arms around him, and whispered, “Come with me.”
With tear-filled eyes we watched him suffer and fade away.
Althought we loved him deeply, we could not make him stay.
A golden heart stopped beating, hard-working hands put to rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.
Mr. Tensley Raymond Rucker, Jr., 79, was born in Iredell County on March 22, 1943, and was the son of the late Tensley R. Rucker, Sr., and Odessa Virginia Mayhew Rucker. He entered into eternal rest on Friday, September 30, 2022, at Gordon Hospice House, Statesville.
Tensley attended Morninside High School. He was a Carolina Panthers football fan, and he was an avid lover of drag racing where he won several championships at the Mooresville and Farmington Dragway. Tensley taught his son, Terrance D. Rucker, how to race as well, and today he is still racing, and has won several championships at different dragways. He was co- founder and owner of TLC Trucking Co. He was a great mechanic, building and assembling motors, also he loved to do landscaping around his home. He was an active member of Greater New Mt. Olive Holiness Church and worked at J. C. Steele and Sons for twenty-five years. Tensley was an all around person who was always helping people with solving and fixing their vehicles when needed and attending his childrens football games. He was a great father and family man to all his siblings whom he loved dearly.
In addition to his late parents, Tensley R. Rucker, Sr. And Odessa Virginia Mayhew Rucker, he was also preceded in death by his grandparents, Reverend Tinsley Rucker and Minnie Holbrooks Rucker; John Mayhew, and Mammie Lowery Mayhew; nephews, Larry Edward Parsons and Marty Parsons; brother, Larry Edward Rucker; brother-in-law, Dr. Fred J. Long, Jr. (Peketa); sister- in-law, Shirley Long Gaither; father-in-law, Fred J. Long, Sr. (Genvieve); grandmother-in-law, Viola Long Cooper, and Beulah M. Turner; and mother-in-law, Margaret L. Turner.
Tensley leaves to cherish the memory of his life, a wife of 47 years, Shelia Turner Rucker of the home; daughter, Sahara (Gerald) Hamilton of Lincolnton, N.C.; three sons, Emanuel M. Faulks of Marietta, Ga., Terrence D. Rucker of Benson, N.C., and Tensley R. Rucker, IV of Statesville, N.C.; one godson, Kareen Jabbar Stevenson of Statesville; brothers, James Rucker of Raleigh, N.C., Freddie (Ludmila) Rucker of Duluth, GA, Rucker, Gary (Debbie) Rucker, Gregory (Kokeeta) Rucker, and David Ross, all of Statesville, Ricky (LeAndrea) Rucker, of Greenwich, CA., and Lloyd Rucker of Lilburn, Ga.; brothers-in-law- Keith Jackson of Statesville, N.C., Robert (Ursula) Long, of Hickory, N.C., Kevin Long of Knoxville, Tn., and Stanley Long of Nashville, N.C.; sisters, Barbara (Bernard) Robertson, Brenda Rucker Dean, Gloria Rucker, Debra (Spencer) Sharpe, and Tuwana Lawrence, all of Statesville, N.C., and Sheila (Nathan) Johnston of Mooresville, N.C.; grandchildren, CaVian Hamilton-Degree, Destinee Rucker, and Dajia Rucker, all of Fayetteville, N.C., Faith Hamilton, of Hampton, Va; Za’Kia Hamilton, Mariah Hamilton, JaRehyl Hamilton, all of Lincolton, N.C., Zanaa Foy of Gastonia, N.C., Aniece Rucker, Justice Rucker, Taliyah Rucker, Taziah Rucker, Tyzere Rucker, Isaiah Rucker, all of Statesville; sister-n-laws, Gail White, Avis Turner, and Synetta (Ted) Raye, all of Statesville, N.C.; a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives, and friends.
Rest In Peace
Rest in peace, dear Father, your road was rocky and hard.
You fought a good fight—full of struggle and strife - Now rest with the saints above.
We’ll never forget the times that we’ve had, full of memories that make us both happy and sad.
We know you did your best—We feel truly blest, to have know you and loved you.
Rest in sweet peace, dear Father, the things that you’ve taught us, will live on and on.
Though you’re no longer with us, you’ll never be gone.
We’ll think of you often and try hard to do, whatever we think will be pleasing to you.
With each passing day and in every way. We’ll love you forever.
So til comes the day when again we will meet, and rejoice in salvation at our Savior’s feet.
We’ll see you in heaven, our sorrows will cease. So until then, Dear Father, rest in peace.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, October 6, 2022, at Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home, Statesville. Visitation will be from 12:30 - 1:00 pm. Funeral will start at 1:00 pm, with Bishop Wilford Walls officiating and Pastor Carolyn Morrison doing the eulogy. Burial will follow in the Iredell Memorial Gardens. Visit the book of memories for Tensley R. Rucker, Jr., at www.rutledgeandbigham.com. Rutledge and Bigham is serving the Rucker family.