Emporia, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Samuel Wilbert Tucker (1913~1990)

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, July 19, 2025

1. Samuel Wilbert Tucker (1913~1990) Marker

Inscription. Samuel W. Tucker, civil rights attorney. was born in Alexandria, where he organized a sit- in at the Whites only public library in 1939. After graduating from Howard University in 1933 and serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. he moved to Emporia. During the 1960s. he became head of the Virginia NAACP's legal team and a partner in the Richmond law firm of Hill, Tucker, and Marsh. He pursued several successful U.S. Supreme Court cases, coauthoring the brief for Griffin v. Prince Edward County (1964) and arguing Green v. New Kent (1968) and Wright v. Emporia (1972). Tucker's work helped overturn the tactics that localities had used to resist federal school desegregation mandates.

Erected 2024 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number UM-55.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1939.

Location. 36° 41.723′ N, 77° 32.316′ W. Marker is in Emporia, Virginia. It is at the intersection of

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North Main Street (Business U.S. 301) and West Atlantic Avenue (Business Route 58), on the left when traveling west on North Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 500 North Main Street, Emporia VA 23847, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southside Virginia

and specifically in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: John Day (approx. 0.2 miles away); Emporia Railroad History (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fearnought (approx. ¼ mile away); Greensville County Training School (approx. 0.3 miles away); Memorial League WWI Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Hicksford Raid (approx. 0.3 miles away);

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, July 19, 2025

2. Samuel Wilbert Tucker (1913~1990) Marker

Tarleton's Movements (approx. 0.4 miles away); Meherrin River Trail (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Emporia.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Butts Tavern (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Samuel Tucker: Unsung Hero of the Civil Rights Movement. (Submitted on July 20, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Samuel Wilbert Tucker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Florence Murray Ca. 1950

3. Samuel Wilbert Tucker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 164 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 20, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.