Rosa Lee Brake Tucker

Rosa Lee Brake Tucker, 94, of Carolina Meadows, Chapel Hill, NC, passed away peacefully Thursday, September 5, 2024. She was born July 25, 1930, on her family farm at Dunbar, Edgecombe County, NC, to the late Richard Ralph Brake, Sr., and Effie Amanda Lewis Brake. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Dr. Rexford Francis Tucker, her brother, Richard Ralph Brake, Jr., and sister-in-law, Margaret White Brake.

As a proud North Carolinian born and raised on the family farm during the Depression, she was surrounded by her extensive Brake and Lewis families and farm community. Rosa Lee was defined by her faith, family, education, and respect for all people. After graduating from Leggett High School, she attended Woman’s College in Greensboro (1948-1950). She then proudly attended her father’s alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1952. During her time at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill she was a trailblazer and leader, joining the Elections Board; co-founding the Independent Coed Board; and served as Coed Senate Treasurer. She later returned to UNC-Chapel Hill, earning a Master of Arts in History (1967); master's thesis entitled “The French Election of April 22-29, 1928.”

Upon graduation she was hired by UNC Memorial Hospital as employee #20 where she oversaw the Personnel Department. She then joined E.I. du Pont de Nemours in Wilmington, Delaware, and was one of the first women managers. She made many lifelong friends while at du Pont and was one of the founders of the Occidental Club. After relocating to Boston, Massachusetts she worked for Prudential, hiring new employees to staff the Prudential Tower. Returning to Rocky Mount, NC, she earned a Teachers Certification (NC Wesleyan College, 1965) and taught English in the Tarboro public schools.

She met Rex Tucker at Christ Episcopal Church, and they were married in 1968. She taught History at Rocky Mount Academy and was an adjunct at North Carolina Wesleyan College. She co-founded and was first President of the NC Wesleyan Women organization; and was a Board member of the NCSSM-Durham Parents Council. Later she worked at North Carolina ESC where she helped many people earn their GED and find employment. She also proudly made major contributions to the genealogical “Brake Book,” published in 1990.

In 1998, Rosa Lee and Rex moved to Fearrington Village to be closer to family while enjoying friends, the outdoors and travel. She joined University United Methodist Church and a UNC Alumni chapter; and served on Boards of the United Nations Association’s West Triangle Chapter and the Fearrington Village Democratic Club. In 2008, she and Rex relocated to Carolina Meadows.

Rosa Lee is survived by her son, Christopher and wife Denise Dell; grandchildren, Matthew and Maggie Dell; her son, David Tucker, wife Christine; step-grandson, Alex; her brothers-in-law, Ralph B. Tucker and Richard P. Tucker; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family extends its sincere appreciation to the devoted staff of UNC Health Care, Carolina Meadows, and Wisdom Senior Care for their care and support of Rosa Lee.

A memorial service will be held at Carolina Meadows Auditorium, 100 Carolina Meadows, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, September 17, 2024; followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Rexford Francis and Rosa Lee Tucker Scholarship Fund at North Carolina Wesleyan University (https://ncwu.edu/give/).

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, are serving the Tucker family.