More detail on this person: James Hughes, of Dalton, GA, passed away on Saturday, July 4, 2015
after an extended illness.
James was born in Macon, GA, to John Dee Pinson and Laura Pauline Mott Hughes. He was the
youngest of eight children and the identical twin of John Dee Hughes.He is preceded in death by his
parents, his six sisters and his oldest son, James Pinson Hughes, Jr.
Survivors include: His devoted wife of 59 years, Jo Wright Hughes, sons and daughters-in-law, James
and Anne Hughes of Cornelia, GA, Jerry and Dedra Hughes of Valdosta, GA, Joel and Karo Hughes of
Dalton, GA, and Jeff and Joan Hughes of Dalton, GA. Also survived by nine grandchildren, Elizabeth
Hughes, Amanda Swearengin, Kati Ray, Laura-Michael Hughes, Matt Hughes, Mikki Denson, Madeline
Hughes, Harrison Hughes, Lauren Hughes, and four great-grandchildren, Sebastian Swearengin, Abigail
Swearengin, McKenzie Ray and Wade Denson.
James attended Lanier High School in Macon, Ga and Mercer University in Macon, GA, where he
played basketball and baseball.
After graduation from college, he served in the Army for 23 years, which included two tours of duty
in Vietnam. In Vietnam, he was a helicopter gunship pilot and a Calvary Troop Commander. He
amassed 2100 hours of combat, rose to the rank of major and was awarded the Distinguished Flying
Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Award with two Oak Leaf
Clusters, 41 Air Medals and the Purple Heart.
Upon retirement from the Army, James received a call into Christian ministry. For 18 years, he
served United Methodist Churches in Albany, Perkins, Baxley and Arlington. After retiring from the
South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, he moved to Dalton and served the First
United Methodist Church of Dalton as a part-time Minister of Pastoral Care. Funeral Services are
scheduled for Wednesday, July 8th at the First United Methodist Church of Dalton. Viewing will begin
at 1:00pm and the service will be at 3:00pm with Dr Robin Lindsey, officiating. Interment will be at
Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Dalton First United Methodist
Church at 500 S. Thorton St., Dalton, GA 30720 or the NW GA Fellowship of Christian Athletes at P.O.
Box 2414, Dalton, GA 30722.
Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.lovefuneralhomega.com
Love Funeral Home, 1402 N. Thornton Ave, Dalton (across from Hamilton Medical Center) is in charge
of arrangements.
Published in The Telegraph on July 7, 2015
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 11/03/2014
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