Asheville Couple Celebrates Golden Anniversary

Charlie and Claudia Morgan-Tucker, Jr. celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

by Johnnie Grant

“These are two of the most wonderful and grateful people we know. They are truly genuine people.”

More than 250 guests, both family and friends from as far away as California, Michigan, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina, celebrated the golden wedding anniversary of Charlie and Claudia Morgan-Tucker, Jr., of Asheville, on November 28. The couple’s children, grandchildren, and other family members hosted the celebration held at Tried Stone Missionary Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.

Charlie Tucker, Jr. is the son of the late Charles, Sr. and Patricia Tucker, originally of Spartanburg, S.C. In 1930 the senior Tuckers moved to Asheville, where they reared their seven children. The eldest, Charlie, Jr., is a 1957 graduate of Stephens-Lee High School; where his fellow students voted him “best business dresser” of their class superlatives. During and after high school Mr. Tucker worked at Mission Hospital; he then went to work for Southern Railroad Systems, from which he retired after 35 years of service. Today he spends time on the golf course and tending to his business properties.

Claudia Morgan-Tucker is the daughter of the late Clarence and Sarah
Morgan of Asheville. One of eight siblings, Claudia Morgan also
attended Stephens-Lee, graduating with the class of 1958. She performed
as the Head Drum Majorette of the Stephens-Lee “Marching Bears,”
acclaimed for their lively marching styles and showmanship. After being
a “stay-at-home-mom,” Mrs. Morgan-Tucker attended nursing school at A-B
Tech. She then was employed by Mission Hospital, also the private
medical practice of Otis B. Michael, M.D., and at Buncombe County
Health Department’s Family Planning department, from which she retired
after almost 25 years of service.

Mrs. Tucker then opened the TLC Florist Shoppe in the “Historic Block”
district in downtown Asheville, and after a number of successful years
in her florist business retired again to spend more time with her
husband, children, and grandchildren. Both Mr. and Mrs. Tucker are
active in their home community of Shiloh, and both serve as trustees of
Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church of Asheville.

The event honoring the Morgan-Tuckers was arranged by Cornell and
Connie Proctor of C & C Proctor and Company Event Specialists, who
set the stage with a motif of gold and candlelight. Tables were
decorated with high-tip crystal vases arranged with gold metallic
flowers and cascading waterfall drapes mounted on mirrored
centerpieces. The place settings consisted of candlelight and double
gold-ringed china, gold flatware, and crystal stemware displayed with
candlelight napkins and table linens.

After a musical prelude and a procession of the honorees and their
family, Josh Tucker, grandson of the honorees, welcomed the guests.
Elder Alfred E. Blount, pastor of Tried Stone Missionary Baptist
Church, blessed the seven-course meal, catered by Ernestine Boyd
Catering Service of Hendersonville. The menu included prime rib, baked
chicken, ham, assorted vegetables, rice pilaf, and an array of
desserts. Reverend Ronald Sullivan, Brother Karl Mapp, and Reverend
John W.

Brewster (pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church, the couple’s
home church), offered gospel entertainment for the evening.
The Morgan-Tuckers’ children Charles (“Sam”) and Patricia (“Tina”)
honor their parents this way: “These are two of the most wonderful and
grateful people we know. Not because they are our parents, but because
they are truly genuine people – they are the best parents any children
could have hoped for.”

Mr. and Mrs. Tucker wish to thank everyone who participated in making this event a joyous and memorable occasion.