On July 28, 1928, a baby girl was born in Washington County, Texas to James Davis, Sr. and Lillie House Davis.  She grew up in Brenham, Texas, and graduated from Pickard High School. 

Upon graduation, she moved to Galveston, Texas and shortly thereafter met and was joined in holy matrimony to Charles Hughes, to whom she was married until his death, for almost fifty-two years.  To this union twins, Beverly Ann and Shirley Ann, and later Pamela Joyce were born. 

After marriage, she joined St. Paul Methodist Church, (now St. Paul United Methodist Church) where she served for over sixty years.  She dearly loved her St. Paul church family.  Over the years she faithfully and tirelessly served as a Communion Steward, a Trustee, and with the Methodist Women. 

In June 1946, Willa B. as she was known, started working at the University of Texas Medical Branch as a Nursing Service employee.  She was employed at UTMB for forty-three years, during which time she attended the University of Oklahoma and the University of Houston where she qualified as a Certified Executive Housekeeper and rose to become the Assistant Director of the Housekeeping Department.  She became a member of the Houston Chapter, National Housekeepers Association, Inc., and was a past board member of that organization.

Mrs. Hughes was a member and Treasurer of The Twelvettes, a social women’s club in Galveston.  She also was a member of the Heroines of Jericho Forever Faithful Court.   After retirement, her favorite pastimes were gardening, traveling, and serving at St. Paul.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Hughes, and their infant daughter Beverly Ann; her parents, James and Lillie Davis; brothers, Richard, Tom, Sterling, James, Jr., and Huery Davis; sister, Johnnie Mae Davis Harris; son, Elder Charles Hughes, son-in-law, Robert “Gopher” Young; and grandson, Trenton Hughes, and daughter-in-love, Augustine Hughes.

She leaves to cherish her memory her daughters, Shirley Hughes Young and Pamela Hughes Collins (George); eight grandchildren Pastor Brian Young (Pastor Natasha), Courtney Young, George Collins, Jr., Teniece Collins, Catrina Richardson (Albert), Samuel Hughes (Dorine), Charles (Jacqueline), and Michael (Kesha); and thirteen great-grandchildren.  Mrs. Hughes is also survived by nieces, one nephew, the St. Paul church family, her very special friend since childhood, Mrs. Joan Barksdale, and very devoted caretaker and friend, Florestine Charles Albert.

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