Mary Lou Tuck, the mother of Mississippi Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, died Tuesday at her home in Maben.

Joseph Ammerman, a spokesman for the lieutenant governor, confirmed the death, but said the cause had not been determined. Mary Lou Tuck was 77.

Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Welch Funeral Home in Starkville. The funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Maben.

Lt. Gov. Tuck could not be reached immediately for comment. Ammerman said Tuck had traveled to Maben on Tuesday after learning of her mother’s death.

He said a statement would be released later.

Mary Lou Tuck attended both of her daughter’s swearing-ins as lieutenant governor in 2000 and 2004.

Residents in Maben and the surrounding area remembered Mary Lou Tuck as someone who always had encouraging words for anyone with whom she came into contact.

Maben Mayor Larry Pruitt, who was a neighbor of the Tucks when he was growing up, described Mary Lou Tuck as “one of the sweetest persons I’ve ever known.”

“Anything you set out to do, she supported you,” Pruitt said Tuesday. “I’d see her every week when she went to get her hair done, and she would be waving across at City Hall. She’d pat me on the back and tell me to keep doing a good job.”

The Rev. Joel Hudson said Mary Lou Tuck was a longtime member of his church, Center Grove Baptist. He said she was active in the community and participated in the church’s Sunshine Club for senior citizens.

“She made sure folks got there. Miss Mary Lou loved to have people around,” Hudson said. “She often bragged on her daughter and son. They were very family oriented.”

Mary Lou Tuck was married to Grady Tuck, a rural mail carrier, who died decades ago. Her second husband, Woody L. Mets, is also deceased, according to a funeral home obituary.

Survivors include a daughter, Amy Tuck; and a son, Al Tuck.