GENE LAMAR HUGHES

Gene Lamar Hughes Gene Lamar Hughes, 78, of Daleville, AL, passed away Wednesday, June 8, 2011, at the family residence. The funeral will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 11, 2011, at Daleville Baptist Church with the Rev. Judson Waldrop and Dr. James Kilpatrick officiating. Burial will follow in Pilgrims Rest West Baptist Cemetery with Sorrells Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends at the church from 1 p.m. until service time. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make contributions to Daleville Baptist Church or Daleville Rescue Squad. Mr. Hughes was born September 5, 1932 in Geneva County, to the late Charlie Wade and Lola Bell Brookins Hughes. He was a 1950 graduate of Slocomb High School. After graduation, he served four years as a signalman in the United States Navy during the Korean conflict, then returned home where he began a career in law enforcement as a deputy with the Houston County Sheriff's Department. Soon thereafter, he became an Alabama State Trooper, where he partnered with Tom Freeman, the man who would become his future father-in-law. His last three of twelve years as a state trooper were spent as safety education sergeant. While working as a state trooper, he started Hughes Fashion Center, and eventually opened 16 stores across the Wiregrass and Florida Panhandle. In 1972, he became a member of the Daleville City Council, then in 1976 was elected Mayor of Daleville, a position he held until his retirement in 1996. During this time he acquired his real estate broker's license and helped found Daleville Real Estate, Inc. He became a homebuilder and developed multiple subdivisions and commercial complexes in Daleville. He served as President of the Southeast Alabama Regional Development Board and as a member of the Southtrust Bank Board. The Daleville Sun-Courier named him "Newsmaker of the Decade" in 1989. He was a Mason, and a member of the Daleville Lions Club. He was a member of Daleville Baptist Church. He was a loyal supporter of the University of Alabama and Daleville Warhawks. In addition to his parents, Mr. Hughes was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles Rudolph Hughes and Glenn Earl Hughes. Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Pat Freeman Hughes, Daleville; their two daughters, Dee Hughes Hendrix and husband, Jamey Hendrix, Newton, Leigh Britton and husband, Jody Britton, Daleville; his son Johnny Johnson and wife, Leisa, Troy; three sisters, Vivian Howell, Marjorie Harris and Sandra Spivey, all of Dothan; one brother, Gerald Hughes and wife, Louise; five grandchildren, of whom he was very proud: Abraham and Abigail Britton and Jarrod, Evan and Ryan Johnson; and numerous nephews and nieces. Sorrells Funeral Home of Enterprise, (334) 347-9598, is in charge of arrangements. To sign a guest register, please visit www.sorrellsfuneralhomes.com. Sign the guest book at www.dothaneagle.com