"Mama told us we'd miss her someday. We do."

Our beautiful mother, Mary Tommie Rucker Young, 94, died April 17, 2025 at Brookridge Retirement Home after a short period of declining health. Mama lived a long life filled with adventure. She was born April 24, 1930, in Davie County to the late Eldo and Leeo Baker Rucker, the next to last of the family's 10 children.

She married her World War II pen pal at 19. At the age of 20, realizing her mistake, Mary left him, getting rid of him and his mother, a woman Mama referred to as "The Hammer." With her young daughter, Pat, in tow, Mary left her hometown of East Spencer and moved to her beloved New York City, where she spent the next 25 years. In 1967, she married John David Young. To this union, and Mama's shock, were born two daughters, Jeri and Trina. The family moved to Charlotte, joining First Mount Calvary Baptist Church, where Mama worked tirelessly as a deaconess and missionary.

Mama was an amazing mother, known for her kindness. It wasn't unusual for Mama to take a pot of soup or her famous pot roast to someone in need of a warm meal or a shoulder to lean on. After she moved to Winston-Salem in 2003, she continued to find ways to help people. She was an active volunteer for Senior Services until she turned 80. She spent her last few years at Brookridge Retirement Home, where often she could be found helping the nurses who cared for her.

Mama was preceded in death by her husband; and her 9 siblings, James, Earline, Camilla, Raymond, Maceo, Claudell, Zeminia, Artis, and Bobby.

She is survived by her daughters, Pat (Drew) Sturrup, Jeri (Skip) Foreman, and Trina (Eric) Nicastro; her grandchildren, Jarin (Stephanie) McCants, Cyndal Sturrup, Daniella Diserens, and Taylor Nicastro; great- grandchildren, Jeremiah, Chloe, and Jessa McCants, and Kendrick Diserens; bonus grandchildren, Samantha Nicastro, Trip Foreman, and Katie Foreman; bonus great grandchildren, Victoria Randazzo and Isabella Casella; a special nephew, LC Rucker; and dozens of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A viewing will be held from 1:00pm until 5:00pm Monday, April 21, 2025 at Russell Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel. The family visitation will be held from 1:00pm until 2:00pm on Tuesday at the Chapel. Interment will be held at 11:00am Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Salisbury National Cemetery, Salisbury, NC.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Brookridge and Trellis for their kindness and loving care of Mama.