Ernestine Tucker
Ernestine Tucker, RN, is a Community Advocate and retired Nurse Practitioner. Tucker’s passion for learning and helping others started before she even realized that it was a God-given talent. Excelling in school taught her that where she lived and how impoverished her family was did not determine what she wanted to become in life. Tucker was always one to take on a challenge and leadership roles while others stood back watching and wondering, “what is she going to do next?”
In the 1960s, the call to serve guided Tucker toward the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, Ala., as a youth leader. Marching for civil rights, experiencing the fire hose, the vicious police dogs, name-calling, jail, pictures being taken, all taught her the real meaning of fighting without violence for what you want. She was exposed to college life at Miles College in the Upward Bound Program and pursued a degree in Biology.
Later, Tucker decided on a career in Nursing and was accepted in the second class that admitted Black students at St. Vincent School of Nursing; she graduated in 1970 among the top 10 in the class. Following graduation, she took a job in Labor and Delivery and was the first Black RN hired by the hospital. Later, Tucker became the Head Nurse in L&D at Mercy Hospital after opening the department. She later became Director of Nursing at MediCenter until relocating to Tuscaloosa, Ala., with her two daughters and husband.
Her first job in Tuscaloosa was at Partlow State School and Hospital as a Nursing Supervisor where she perfected compassion. Tucker later transferred to the Tuscaloosa County Health Department in Family Planning and was granted the opportunity to attend UAB Nurse Practitioner Program. After graduating from the program, she moved to Student Health as a Clinician and Health Educator at The University of Alabama. During her tenure, she taught Nursing at Shelton State Community College and served as an Adjunct Faculty member at UA. In addition to her job responsibilities, Tucker made time to serve as a student advisor to campus organizations and as President of the Black Faculty and Staff Association.
For over 25 years, Tucker has been a part of the Westside Community Action Council, Inc., whose purpose was to improve the quality of life for individuals and families in West Tuscaloosa. One program established was the Summer Youth Training and Jobs Program in which over 1,000 at-risk Tuscaloosa youths were trained and placed. The Council led the charge during the onset of COVID-19 to set up a Drive-Through Food Pickup project.
Having compassion for youth, Tucker wrote the 100 Men/100 Boys Program at Elizabeth Baptist Church over 20 years ago and Project BETHEL for Bethel Baptist Church serving expelled students over 15 years ago; both are still operational. Tucker also served as a member of the Tuscaloosa City School Board for 14 years. Elected to represent District 2, she was committed to serving schools throughout the district.