The Chattanooga Christian School community is mourning the death of a local mother of five sons who died after a crash on Lookout Mountain earlier this week.
The school held a prayer service Tuesday for Rachel Tucker, 42, who died after Monday's crash.
"Please be in prayer for the family of CCS Upper School parent, Rachel Tucker, who passed away unexpectedly today due to injuries sustained in a car accident," said Chad Dirkse, president and interim upper school head, in an email Tuesday night. "She is now in the presence of our Lord. Our deepest sympathies go out to her sons ... and Rachel's extended family."
Dirkse said that grief support will be available in the middle school and high school through its Office of Spiritual Care and Worship for any CCS students who desire support and care throughout the week.
Tucker was injured Monday when the she lost control of her Volvo on a wet curve, slid across the double-yellow line and was struck by a Freightliner truck on its way up the mountain, according to Chattanooga Police.
Memorial fund
A memorial fund has been established at The Generosity Trust to help to care for the needs of Rachel's family.You may direct your tax-deductible gifts to The Generosity Trust, 345 Frazier Avenue, Unit 205, Chattanooga, TN 37405, and indicate that the gift is for the Rachel Tucker Memorial Fund.Gifts may also be given online at www.thegenerositytrust.org/give, scroll down and click on the "Give Now" button, and follow the instructions on the site.The Generosity Trust and other charitable entities will work closely with Mrs. Tucker's family to help meet both immediate and long-term needs of the family.If you have any questions, please direct them to The Generosity Trust at 423-266-5257.
Chattanooga Fire Department personnel extricated Tucker from the Volvo and she was taken to a local hospital, where she was listed in critical condition, police said in a statement.
The investigation is ongoing.
Tucker was the owner of Indigo Tangerine, a home and gifts online shop she founded in 2015, according to her company's Facebook page.
Three of her sons attend Chattanooga Christian and Dirkse told the Times Free Press that the school anticipates sharing ways to support the boys with the community in the future.
He encouraged CCS parents to reach out to members of the Office of Spiritual Care and Worship directly if they would like them to reach out proactively to their children. Dirkse said that the Chattanooga Christian School community is a tight-knit community.
"Our prayer is that God will be near to Rachel's family in this time of sorrow and loss and that they will know a peace that passes all understanding," he said.
Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church is handling Tucker's services. A reception for family and friends will be held at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. with the memorial service immediately following at 4 p.m.
A memorial fund has been established at The Generosity Fund to help with the needs of her family.
Contact Meghan Mangrum at mmangrum@timesfreepress.com or 423-757- 6592. Follow her on Twitter @memangrum.