Janet Hodges Tucker 1940 – 2018 Lakeland – Janet Hodges Tucker Janet was born October 13, 1940, in Moultrie, Georgia, to Edgar Eugene Hodges, Jr. and Janet Groover Hodges. She passed into the arms of her Lord on June 4, 2018. Janet grew up in Moultrie and graduated from Moultrie High School.
She continued her education at Florida State University, where she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. Following college, she moved to Tampa and then to Lakeland, where she worked as… Read More » a department manager for Maas Brothers. She married Jess G. Tucker and together, they raised four children and enjoyed 52 years of marriage.
Over the years, Janet enjoyed a long history of dedicated volunteerism and community involvement. Her extensive community service included serving the Junior Woman’s Club of Lakeland as president and as chairman of Red Stocking Time; founder and chairman of Winterfest for the Polk Museum of Art; co-chairman of the inaugural Mayfaire-by-the-Lake event and founder of Mayfaire Saturday night; president, treasurer, and acting director for the Polk Museum of Art; chairman of the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority; co-founder of the Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market; president of the Downtown Lakeland Partnership; directress of the Altar Guild at St. David’s Episcopal Church; and chairman of the Lakeland Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon for 25 years. She served on numerous community boards and committees as well, including the Tiny Tots Day Nursery in Lakeland, United Way Budget Committee, Lakeland Boys’ Baseball, Tri-County Child Care, Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center, Lakeland Police Athletic League Policeman’s Ball, Alliance for Independence Blue Ribbon Committee, Central Florida Autism Institute, Lakeland Advertising and Publicity Board, Tenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission, Detroit Tigers Wives Luncheon, Miss USA Program, Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Child of the Sun Jazz Festival.
Janet was a member of Leadership Lakeland Class VII, and was a recipient of the Dudley Uphoff Award. Janet’s business interests included being a Doncaster consultant, and owning Jannabelle’s Brides and More, A Special Touch, and the Hair Shanty. In addition, she owned Practically Perfect Papers and was co-owner of Tucker’s Southside Package and Lounge.
Janet and her husband Jess loved to travel and enjoyed entertaining in their homes in Lakeland and Holmes Beach. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her husband of 52 years, Jess G. Tucker III. She is survived by their four children: James Michael Tucker, Elizabeth Tucker Prokuski, Janet Rebecca Tucker Melton (Ray Duffy), and Robert Hodges Tucker (Anna), all of Lakeland.
Janet is also survived by 12 grandchildren: Rachel Prokuski, Scott Duffy, Lane Melton, James Prokuski, Sarah Duffy, Claire Duffy, Libby Tucker, Andrew Prokuski, JuliaGene Melton, Jameson Tucker, Ella Tucker, and Genevieve Gove Tucker, all of Lakeland; one brother, Gene Hodges, of Lakeland; one sister, Shirley Hodges Peters (James) of Athens, Georgia; several nieces, nephews, and cousins; and numerous extended family “children”. The family if extremely grateful to the nurses and aides from Cornerstone Hospice for the loving care they provided in Janet’s final days. A memorial service will be held at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, June 16, 2018 at 4:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. David’s Episcopal Church, 145 E. Edgewood Drive, Lakeland, FL 33803 or to Cornerstone Hospice Foundation, 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares, FL 32778.
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