Jane was born on June 4, 1949 to Grover Cleveland and Martha Jane Jordan Smith in Montgomery, Alabama. After graduating from Sidney Lanier High School in 1967, she went on to study nursing at Druid City Hospital in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. After graduating as a registered nurse in 1970, she began working as an RN at the hospital in the medical surgical area.
Jane married late in 1969, and in early 1971 she had her son, Kelly Colin Tucker, so she decided to dedicate her life to being a fantastic mother. She was also a wonderful Army wife who led the family through nine moves over 20 years, and supporting them through many passions and challenges of life. During their first assignment at Ft. Rucker, Alabama, Jane worked as a Red Cross Army Nurse Volunteer and enjoyed her time supporting the Army Post community. Several times during her life, she was instrumental in helping people who were unaware of the seriousness of their health conditions to immediately seek medical treatment that eventually saved their lives.
While a stay-at-home mom, Jane spent significant efforts supporting numerous Christian ministries in the local churches, women's clubs, and children/youth ministries. She led numerous people to the Lord. From 1989 to 1991, then Jane Tucker served as president of the Mississippi Right to Life organization. She was instrumental in several laws successfully passing the Mississippi Legislature and defending the rights of the unborn. From 2010 to 2021, Jane was a respite nurse serving numerous families as she became a lifeline to severely disabled children and adults. She became an important part of many of these families and is still loved deeply in the years since retiring.
Jane was preceded in death by her parents, Grover and Martha Smith, and her second husband, Michael Gambino. She is survived by her son, Colonel Colin Tucker, USAF retired (Allison); her three grandchildren, Andrew, Emily, and Abigail; and her cousin, Susan Simmons.
The family will receive guests at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, Alabama on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 10-11 a.m., followed by A Celebration of Life Service at 11 a.m. at Ridout's Southern Heritage. Pallbearers will be Andrew Tucker, Colin Tucker, Hank Simpson, David Long, Mark Barger, Winston Taylor, and Michael Giddens. The private graveside service will be in Montgomery.
The family requests that memorial gifts be made to Caroline's Cause, www.carolinescause.com.
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