Funeral services for the Reverend Everett Maxwell Rucker, Jr. were held on Saturday, August 10, 2019 at Allen Temple AME Church in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Rev. Rucker was reared in Nashville and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in music education from Tennessee State University. At TSU, he marched with the Aristocrat of Bands and played gigs with the Spectrum Band. While matriculating at TSU, he was initiated into the Alpha Theta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Everett was known for his ability to paint exceptional portraits and landscape drawings. While in junior high, he learned to play the saxophone and played in the Syndicate Band through high school. The group released “Swear I Do,” a 45-rpm record that enjoyed local success on WVOL for about three months.
Everett earned a Master’s degree in music education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. After graduating, he eventually accepted a job as a band director in the Cincinnati public schools.
Everett left the school system, but remained in Cincinnati and became a State Farm agent. During his 25-year agency career, he developed a successful agency of over 4500 accounts, producing over $1.5 million in premiums annually. Everett was inducted in the Million Club, Ambassador for Life, and Legion of Honor Club.
In 1991 Everett accepted his call to ministry. He served as pastor of four AME churches. He was pastor of Allen Chapel AME Church in the College Hill Community of Cincinnati at the time of his passing. He also was an agent with American Income Life Insurance.
Pastor Rucker’s ministry included radio ministries in Beaver, Ohio and Cincinnati, as well as a television broadcast in Dayton. In 2003, he released a CD as part of his ministry, entitled “Jesus Christ Is the Way” (available on YouTube) and authored Expectant Hope: The Keys to Miracles, Abundance, and Blessings in 2008.
Rev. Rucker is lovingly remembered by a plethora of family members and friends: his mother, Martha Rucker; wife T. Maria; five daughters; seven grandchildren; and many other relatives, including his aunt, Mai Olive Lusk.
