Martha Mae Ophelia Moon Tucker got married in 1952 when segregation laws forbade her from entering the bridal boutique.
In 1952, Martha Mae Ophelia Moon Tucker married the man of her dreams.
And while nothing could prevent the love these two shared from coming to fruition, there were those who would try to make them feel like their union was lesser and undeserving of joy and celebration.
Despite segregation laws at the time that prevented Black people from participating in society among Whites who falsely decided that they were better or even different from their fellow human beings, Tucker and her husband had a happy wedding.
Still, Tucker always wondered what it would have been like to wear a wedding dress on her big day.
Jim Crow Laws in 1950s Alabama prevented her and other women like her from walking into a bridal boutique. Thankfully, segregation is abolished.
Fast forward 70-years later to when Tucker and her granddaughter Angela Strozier were watching one of the funniest movies of all time “Coming to America” where fast food manager Lisa McDowell leaves America to become a princess in an incredible ballgown on her royal wedding day.
That’s when the 94-year-old Tucker whispered something to her granddaughter.
“I’ve always wanted to try on a wedding dress. I didn’t have one when I married,” she told Insider.
Strozier decided she would make her grandmother’s dream come true and made her an appointment at David’s Bridal so grandma could try on wedding dresses and pick one out.
Tucker knew the moment she had found “the one.”
“When I went into the bridal shop, that dress had my name on it,” she told People. “Oh, it was so beautiful…I was in heaven.”
As nice as the dress was it was really Tucker’s beauty that really shined at that moment. I mean, look at this picture. She sure is a pretty lady.
Her granddaughters say all that beauty comes from the inside.
“She’s so full of life. Sometimes she has more energy than me. It’s just a blessing to still have her here,” granddaughter Erica Tucker says.
Tucker even got to try on a garter, and she was totally feeling herself.
“I looked in the mirror at myself wanting to know who that is,” Tucker explained to the ABC. “Yeah, I was very excited! I felt great!” she told ABC.
Not only did she feel great, Tucker knew she looked good too.
Tucker’s family is hoping to throw her a proper reception and she’s even preparing for a trip to Hawaii.
Tucker didn’t end up buying the dress but she sure was happy for the experience.
“She’s always made sacrifices to give from her heart,” Strozier said, speaking of her grandmother. “So to return a gift from my heart to her was priceless.”
Tucker, who has four children, 11 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren, was a civil rights activist and poll watcher in 1963 who worked with Birmingham’s Civil Rights leaders.
“She has always been the one to just made those types of sacrifices to make people know their rights,” said Strozier.
Now that love she gave others is being returned to her.
Learn more about Tucker’s story in the video below.
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