The Helen R Tucker Adult Developmental Center received its official charter in 1978. First opening as The Lauderdale County Adult Activities Center. The name was eventually changed to the Helen R Tucker Adult Developmental Center when Mrs. Helen Tucker became the Chairman of the Board Emeritus to honor her for all the work she had done over the years working for the disabled.

The center has had many locations before the current location. Originally opening in the back of the Wiley T Daniel’s Building, it later moved to the old Central School Building. Clayton Pattot, director in the 1990s, was very instrumental in the construction and development of the current location. Donations were received from community members as well as from fundraisers held by the people supported. The land was donated by the City of Ripley. The current location was opened on June 25, 1999, with an open house to celebrate the occasion. Other past directors of the agency include Harry Adcock, Jim Countess, Carol Ammons, Camille Wayne, Ann Roote, Martha Drumwright, and Suzanne Wieber, Candice Burkheart serving as the current director.

As the need arose for housing for intellectual and developmentally disabled adults, the center opened its first group home in 1987. Today, the center has six residential supportive living homes with two in Halls, TN and four in Ripley, TN.

Today, the center serves 32 adults in Lauderdale and Tipton Counties in West Tennessee. The people served have had the opportunity to visit Disney World in Orlando, FL, and more recently, the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN.

Jean Cannon, Social Worker, is our most tenured employee with 33 years of service to the Helen R Tucker Adult Developmental Center.