Mary Buffington Tull
Mary Buffington Tull was born in Knoxville, Tn., on July 16, 1916, to the late John Calvin Buffington and Josephine White Buffington Rucker and was raised by her mother and adopted father, Dovie Cole Rucker. She was blessed with an extraordinary lifespan of 105 years; a precious link in our family chain has been broken and her transition to her heavenly home will be a great loss to her loving family, countless friends, and devoted church family.
She was educated in the Chattanooga Public Schools and graduated from Howard High School in 1935. However, her greatest and most prized educational attainment was her graduation from Grady Hospital School of Nursing in Atlanta, GA in 1942. This was a phenomenal accomplishment for an African American woman during this era and the accomplishment served as a springboard to a successful and stellar nursing career that spanned for over forty years. She began her career as a Registered Nurse in Detroit, MI at Harper Hospital where she became the first African American nurse to be employed in that facility. She later returned to Chattanooga during the 1950s to work at the newly opened Memorial Hospital as a RN. In 1959, she relocated to Brooklyn, New York where she continued her career serving as a public health nurse for the New York Public Health Department for eleven years, subsequently returning back to Chattanooga to become the Clinic Supervisor at Alton Park Health Center until she retired in 1979.
She was a devoted and faithful member of Bethel AME Church, where she served in various capacities which included being a Deaconess, serving on the Senior Usher Board, and the Missionary Society. She served as a member of the city-wide Church Women United Methodist ministry, served on various community boards, and was active in the Bushtown community. She was a recipient of many awards and accolades for her outstanding work and service during her lifetime. She was truly a caring person who throughout her life faithfully cared for family members and friends in times of need. Her life was always filled with purpose. She enjoyed traveling and loved social participation and involvement. She loved the essence of life and was eternally grateful for living a blessed and fruitful life that touched many in a most unique and special way.
She loved her family tremendously and unconditionally, and they loved her unfailingly. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, George Allen Buffington, John Rucker, Hezekiah Rucker Sr., and Allen Rucker; sisters, Lillie Rucker Jenkins, and Elizabeth Rucker Allen. She was the last remaining member of her immediate family.
Leaving behind to cherish her memory are eight devoted nieces and nephews, Hezekiah (Charlene) Rucker Jr., Michael (Charleen) Allen Sr.; nieces, Ramona Rucker Carter, Dr. Vikki Allen, Vanessa (Warren) Rucker Johnson, Valeria Allen, Melva Dawn (Gary) Rucker Jackson, and Jennifer (Charles) Allen Gore; a very special friend, Mrs. Geraldine Jordan; other family members and friends whom she dearly treasured.
Public viewing will be held from 2-6 p.m. on Thursday May 5, at John P. Franklin Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m. on Friday, May 6, at Bethel AME, 2004 Walker Road, followed by a 11 a.m. funeral service, with Rev. A.J. Holman, officiating. Interment will be in Forest Hills Cemetery.
CDC Health regulations will be followed for the service and masks will be required.
Arrangements are by John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave., 423 622-9995.
The service will be livestreamed via John P. Franklin Funeral Home and Bethel AME Church Facebook pages.