Dr. Rucker

Jennie Rucker “Queen of Commas” Welcome family and friends to the celebration of a life well lived. Today we honor Dr. Jennie Mae Rucker. She was known to all of us by many names as she wore many hats (both literally and figuratively.) Whether you know her by Dr. Rucker, Miss Jennie, Aunt Mae, Mother, or grandmother, all of us know her as a force of nature. Dr. Jennie Rucker was a life changer who thrived on encouraging higher education and community service. She was a world-traveler who always shared a library-full of knowledge wherever she went. Born in Texas in 1922, Jennie moved to Denver where she established her roots. Growing up on Denver’s West-Side, she enjoyed her childhood with her siblings Louis, Bertha, and Alma. She attended Fairview Elementary, Lake Middle, and ultimately graduated from West High School. A firm believer in education, Jennie went on to attain several advanced degrees including her Doctorate in Library Sciences from Denver University. She married George Webster Rucker, the first Black pharmacy school graduate from CU-Boulder and went on to open Rucker’s Drug Store. Soon they welcomed a son, George and eventually becoming a grandmother to Douglas, Darlene, and Amanda. Possessor of multiple degrees, Dr. Rucker was a Denver Public Schools secretary and substitute teacher, a founding faculty member at Community College of Denver. She was extraordinarily proud of her Doctorate degree in Library Science (and with reason.) Dr. Rucker sang in the chorus for the National Negro Opera Company and The Spirituals Projects Choir during her years on Earth. She sat on the board of the Colorado Historical Society as well. She was a Philanthropist traveling from Africa to South America building schools and financing education for the children she so adored. She partnered with various organizations allowing her to open the doors of her home to traveling students. From Egypt to Equador, all were welcome her home. If you ever stopped by her home on Gaylord, you could either find Dr. Rucker among her books or her beautiful mum-filled garden. Her home was her own personal library. From “Fodor’s North Africa,” “An Unquiet Mind,” “Einstein’s Brainchild,” “Wade in the Water.” Books on history, religion, education, and language. Her most prized possessions, the English/Spanish children’s books that “they don’t want you to have any more, so grab them when you see them.” When asked why she has so many she would say, “It breaks my heart to throw a book away.” Jennie enjoyed a live concert from opera to gospel and love Cleo Parker Robinson Dance events. She found herself the happiest while reading to children and watching them perform the arts. You could often find Dr. Rucker in historic 5-Points, making strangers her new friends and counseling youth encouraging them to get their degrees in education whether the liked it or not. But they always listened to her speak. She was well-respected. Dr. Rucker’s eyes were as wide as the ocean and her voice as sweet as the pie. She was a true walking dream, a gem, a treasure. As a Community Leader/Activist, Educator, Patron of the Arts, World Traveler, Missionary, Singer, and life-long student, it would be impossible to encompass all that Dr. Rucker has accomplished. When asked what she felt was her greatest achievement, she would answer without fail her kids. By kids, she meant all of us, her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, her students, and anyone who had the pleasure of crossing her path. She greeted all with an infectious smile, a warm hug, an amusing anecdote, an occasionally a stern word when necessary. An inspiration and one who always encouraged you to push past your own perceived limitations and knock over anyone who would attempt to stand in your way. Jennie would be the first person to tell you to go out and grasp everything the world has to offer you. Her greatest wish for you: Accumulate your own set of commas, add to the list of amazing things that make you the best version of yourself and be that to everyone you meet. This above all things is the legacy of love and the lesson in fortitude Dr. Jennie Rucker leaves for us as we continue to blaze our own paths.

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell - 6601 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO
Service: 9/22/2018 at 3:00 PM - People's Presbyterian Church - 2780 York Street, Denver, Colorado