JESSE CARL HUGHES

Jesse Carl Hughes Mr. Jesse Carl Hughes of Dothan passed away on Thursday, September 17, 2009 at his home after an extended illness. He was 82. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009 at Bethel Baptist Church with the Revs. Ricky Plummer and Wallace Russell officiating. Burial with full military rites will follow in Hodges-ville Baptist Church Cemetery with Byrd Funeral Home on West Main Street directing. The family will receive friends in the chapel of the funeral home from 6 until 8 p.m. on Friday. Flowers are being accepted or contributions may be made to the Bethel Baptist Church "Building" Fund, 3257 E. Cottonwood Road, Dothan, AL 36301. Mr. Hughes was born April 17, 1927 in Geneva County, the son of the late Clayton & Maudie Hughes. Jesse joined the Army at eighteen and served for more than 20 years, retiring as a Sergeant First Class. His favorite award given to him was the Air Medal Award for combat service in Vietnam. He also retired from GTE/Verizon in 1989. Jesse was a faithful member of the Bethel Baptist Church. He was a bold witness for Christ and always ready to share the plan of salvation with anyone. He was an ordained deacon. An avid beekeeper and gardener, he enjoyed sharing his vegetables with friends and neighbors, but his greatest joy was his family. He was preceded in death by his father, Wesley Clayton Hughes; his mother, Maudie Jones Hughes; brothers, C.W. and Billy Ray Hughes; sisters, Katherine Lassiter and Elizabeth Mottle. Jesse is survived by his wife of 54 years, Violet "Bobbie" Hughes; daughters, Becky Efurd (Gaston), Donna Carr (Jimmy) and a son, Randy Hughes, all of Dothan; four grandchildren, Jill Napier (Shawn), Kayla Trotter (Jeremy), Shawn Carr, all of Dothan and Melaine Windham (Stephen) of Glennville, GA; five greatgrandchil-dren; his surviving bro-thers and sisters, David Hughes, Robert Hughes, Clayton "Sonny" Hughes, Ruby Smith, Martha Gird-ner and Patricia Medley. Jesse Carl Hughes Byrd Funeral Home on West Main Street, (334) 793-3003, is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be offered at www.byrdfuneralhome.com. Sign the guest book at www.dothaneagle.com.