Cornelius Tucker Sr.

Cornelius "Pop" Tucker Sr. went home to be with the Lord on March 12, 2026, at the age of 72. He was born on June 18, 1953 in Gunnison, Mississippi, to the late Albert and Ossie Tucker.

Pop graduated from Broad Street High School in Shelby, Mississippi, he was extremely skilled in woodwork. He moved to Columbus, Ohio in the 1970s with his wife and children. A devoted Christian, he loved the Word of God and often quoted scripture with conviction and joy. Whether praying over a family meal or lifting someone up in a moment of need, he was the man you wanted leading prayer. He was a member of New Salem Baptist Church in Columbus under Rev Dr. Keith Troy, where he regularly volunteered to assist in the food pantry.

A hardworking and dedicated provider, Pop was employed as a city bus operator with the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) for more than 35 years without an accident. Known affectionately as "Sippy" (Mississippi) for his warm Southern accent and charm, he built lifelong friendships within the transit community and among the passengers he served. Blessed with a gift of gab, he would talk to anyone, anywhere, turning simple conversations into moments of connection.

Pop faced tremendous health battles throughout his life, including a pancreatic cancer diagnosis in 2008, where he was given a 13% survival rate and congestive heart failure. Even when the odds were stacked against him, he never wavered in his faith. He believed wholeheartedly that only God, not the statistics of man, could determine the number of his days. In his final months, he was diagnosed with sepsis. Dialysis was attempted, but failed, and he was given less than days to live. With remarkable strength, resilience, and an unshakable trust in Christ, he overcame these health challenges. He ultimately departed this earthly life peacefully in the comfort of his home, surrounded by family.

He is preceded in death by his parents: Albert and Ossie Tucker; aunts: Ruth Lee Britton, Elvai Flowers, and Jessie Clay; uncle: John Davis; sister: Ethel Wallace; brother and best friend: Calvin "Red" Tucker; nephews: Antonio "Tony" Curtis, Terry Curtis, and Kevin Collier and nieces: Vanessa Faye Curtis and Moniesha Wallace.

Pop leaves to cherish his memory his Former Wife and Lifelong Friend: Lillie Tucker of Columbus, Ohio; his Daughters: Rachelle Tucker of Columbus, Ohio, Tanya Tucker of Raleigh, North Carolina and Cassandra Smallwood of Peoria, Illinois and his only Son: Cornelius Tucker Jr. of Columbus, Ohio. He is also survived by his Grandchildren: Sequoia, Cameron, Khalia, Carissa, Cornelius III, and Courtanay; his Great-Grandchildren: Legend, Aziah, and Ashanti and his Siblings: Annie, Maggie, Paulette, Patrice, Paul, Keyonna, and Christian. He is further remembered by a host of Nieces, Nephews, extended family and a loving community of friends.