Page 79 - Wayne County

integration,” according to Julian, “I just told the people that if we wanted to reach the college students we were going to have to accept the black people in.”

“That was a huge step back then,” says Dean.

After that, a whole group came every Sunday with no problems. The church really prospered. The pastor at Epworth in Savannah was moving, the Tuckers were not suppose to be moving. Because of a death in the conference, and other moves, they were on their way to Savannah.. This time, it was already a thriving church but became larger in membership and attendance even though it was in a very changing area. “We had one of the greatest music programs I've ever had in a church,” remembers Julian, “We had a choir of about 30 people, then we had a young adult choir that I compared quite often to the Junaluska Singers. They were tremendous. We also had a children's choir. Anyway, I was there four years and then was appointed to Jesup in June, 1980. God blessed us again as we increased in membership. We were here fve years, not expecting to move and on

the last day of appointments they called us and said to meet with the Bishop and the cabinet at eight o'clock a.m. in Macon the next day.”

Dean says, “It was a shock to all of us. We were happy. I had just gotten the job I wanted.”

They are remembered warmly during that time for hosting trips for the Jesup Journeyers, varying from a play in Jacksonville to as far as Argentina. Julian's creativity in making his sermons come alive is recalled by one member when, at a church picnic, he rowed up to the water's edge, stood in the boat and delivered his message. Another impressionable time was the reenactment of the Crucifxion when he “hung” on the cross in the courtyard of First United Methodist Church. “He always put his heart and energy into leading our congregation in singing. Who can forget “Blessed Assurance” and the image of his drawing out that long note in the chorus, as if he were pulling it out of us, “ recalls one member. The Tuckers moved from Jesup to Americus, then on to Liberty in Bibb County. After four years there, they

Julian no longer plays golf nor does much fshing but continues to work in some organizations, such as the Mental Health Association. During his journey he has lead many revivals some as far away as Ft. Worth, Texas. He also has preached innumerable funerals and marriages; and, he is now marrying the children and grandchildren.