Dorothy Geraldine Hughes

Dorothy Geraldine Pitts Hughes passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at the home of her daughter in Dandridge. She was born September 1, 1922 in the St Tide community of Cocke County, the older of two children of Porter Monroe and Cora Gregg Pitts. She grew up on the farm purchased by her grandfather in 1897, attended Unity School, graduated Parrottsville High School, followed by business courses at Cocke County High School. She and Edward Ward Hughes were married December 2, 1939 and celebrated their sixty-third anniversary prior to his death in 2003. She was a homemaker as they raised a family of four children. She worked twenty-four years in education, initially as a teacher at Unity School during World War II followed by twenty-three years as a teaching assistant after her children were raised. In addition to being an excellent seamstress, she enjoyed cooking, gardening, crafts, puzzles, and reading. She loved her God and was of the Baptist faith from an early age. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Ward Hughes; her parents; and brother, Eugene Fulton Pitts. She is survived by a daughter, Martha (Lynn) Murray, Dandridge; son, Charles Douglas (Vicki) Hughes, Newport; son, Grady E. Hughes, Maryville; Gordon D. (Vicki) Hughes, Morristown; grandchildren, Leanne Murray, Jefferson City and Isabella and Anabella Hughes, Mohawk; step-grandchildren, Kevin Smelcer and Jennifer Richardson; step-great-grandchildren, Sam and Emma Smelcer and Silas Richardson. The family extends much gratitude to Jennifer Kyker for her tender and loving care and also to Dr. Donna Dillard and to Smoky Mountain Home Health for excellent care. The family will receive friends 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday evening, August 30, 2025 at Manes Funeral Home Chapel; the funeral service will follow at 7 p.m. with Rev. Dr. Jason McIntosh and Rev. Dr. Charlie Boggan officiating. Interment will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, August 31, 2025 in Union Cemetery in Newport. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Stokely Memorial Library, Newport. Family and friends may sign the guest register online at www.manesfuneralhome.com. Arrangements with Manes Funeral Home, Newport, TN.