Martha Orton Tucker

Martha “Martie” Orton Tucker, beloved mother and wife, passed into eternal life on February 9, 2017. The relatives and friends of Martha "Martie" Orton Tucker are invited to attend her Mass of Christian Burial 10:00 AM Tuesday, February 14, 2017, at Nativity Catholic Church, 1061 Folly Road, Charleston. The Rite of Committal will be 2:00 PM Tuesday at Beaufort National Cemetery, 1601 Boundary Street, Beaufort. The family will receive friends between 6:00 and 8:00 PM Monday, with a 7:30 PM Rosary, at the James A. McAlister Funeral Home, 1620 Savannah Highway, Charleston. Martie was active in the Charleston community first as a nurse practitioner and then through the Charleston County Medical Society Auxiliary where she served as a President. She also was active in the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, the Charleston Ballet Theatre and the Ladies Benevolent Society. Her proudest accomplishment came while serving as the President of the Charleston Taskforce on Safety Seats. Through her efforts and those of the taskforce, Governor Riley was able to sign into law the requirement for children riding in cars to be properly secured in approved safety seats.Martie was born Martha Virginia Orton to the late Dr. Foster Orton and Virginia Slate Orton on November 3, 1948 in Rahway, New Jersey. She was a graduate of Rahway High School and later Monmouth College where she earned her Registered Nurse designation in 1969. She began her medical career at Rahway Hospital which was founded by her grandfather and headed up by her Uncle. She served in a number of hospitals including the Medical Center Hospitals of Vermont in Burlington and the hospital in Dade County, Florida. She was a member of the Visiting Nurses Association and attended the University of Vermont where she earned her license as a Nurse Practitioner.She was formerly married to Dr. H. David Reines and then later to Scott Tucker of Charleston and had four children, Beth Virginia Wheeler, Alissa Reines Leeman (Zachary), Kelly Ann Tucker and the late David B. Tucker. She was the adoring Nana to her six grandchildren.Memorials can be made to The Palmetto Ring Fund at The Citadel Alumni Association (www.Foundation.Citadel.edu), or the Hollings Cancer Center at the MUSC Foundation, 18 Bee St., Charleston, SC 29425.