Helen Douglass Hughes

Helen Douglass Hughes, 98, died peacefully in her sleep at Rex Hospital on March 2, 2009.
Helen was born in Fuquay Springs on March 10, 1910, the oldest daughter of William Birch Douglass and Annie Farmer Douglass. She graduated from Granger High School in Kinston, NC, in 1927. She attended the Woman College of the University of North Carolina for one year prior to her marriage to Charles Dewey Barham of Goldsboro, NC. A son, Charles, Jr. was born in July 1930 and daughter, Harriette Ann was born in February 1935. Her husband was killed in an automobile accident in February 1936; and Helen and her two children moved to Raleigh to be near her parents who had earlier moved to Raleigh from Kinston.
Over the years Helen was employed by Hardbarger's Business College, the Aeronautical Engineering Department of North Carolina State College, Carolina Power & Company, Hugh Morson High School and the North Carolina Highway Department.
In January 1968, Helen married A. J. "Red" Hughes, a Division Engineer of the North Carolina Highway Department. They lived in Sylva and Southern Pines. Following Red's death in 1983, Helen remained in Southern Pines until 1997 when she moved to the Whitaker Glen retirement community in Raleigh.
Helen was a member of First Baptist Church of Raleigh and the Ellen Brewer Sunday School Class.
She is survived by her son, Charles Dewey Barham, Jr., his wife, Peggy, their daughter, Margaret; her son, David of Raleigh and their son, Charlie and his wife, Ann of Winston-Salem; and by her daughter, Harriette Ann Best of Fairfax, VA; her son, Albert and his wife, Sandy and their children, Scott, Nash and Dwight, all of Wilmington; and her son, Langhorne his wife, Michelle, and their children, John, James and Joseph, all of Arlington, VA; a stepdaughter, Ann Day and her husband, Ken of Rome, GA. Helen is also survived by a brother, Harry W. Douglass and wife, Jeanne of New Bern; a sister, Josephine D. Dixon of Roanoke VA; a sister-in-law, Mary G. Douglass of Raleigh.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, William, Birch and Clyde Douglass and her sister, Dolly Tyson.
Proverbs 31 speaks of a woman who "is clothed with strength and dignity,"and who "speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction," and whose "children arise and call her blessed." We, her family, are grateful and blessed that Helen set such a noble example for each of us.
The funeral service will be held 3:00 p.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church, 99 N. Salisbury Street. The family will receive relatives and friends in the church parlor following the service.
In lieu of flowers, gifts to honor the memory of Helen may be made to the Mission Endowment Fund of First Baptist Church, 99 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27603.
Condolences may be sent to www.brownwynne.com