James Clifford (Jim) Hughes

Published in The Valdosta Daily Times from 3/22/2010 - 3/23/2010

James Clifford (Jim) Hughes, 77 of Nashville died Sunday, March 21, 2010 at his residence.

Mr. Hughes was a sports enthusiast. He signed a professional baseball contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization after graduation from Lake Park High School in 1952.

He was a member of the US Army baseball team in Ulm, Germany when they won the 1954 USAREUR (United States Army World Series of Europe) in a four game sweep of the VII Corps Baseball Team.

Due to an injury while serving in Europe, Mr. Hughes's baseball career was shortened and he became an avid amateur golfer in which this too was shortened due to the same injury.

He is survived by two daughters, Sue (Jesse) Stone of Nashville, Sherri (Kenny) White of Lake Park; two sons, Mike (Rhonda) Hand of Nashville and Jimmy (Melissa) Hughes, Jr. of Valdosta; four granddaughters, Wendy (James) Morris, Joni (Roger) Green, Stacie (Alvin) May, and Nikki (Evan) Goforth all of Nashville; three grandsons, Jamie (Shana) Thomas of Gainesville, Fla., Kevin Hand of Nashville, and Zak (Kirstin) Hughes of Valdosta.

Mr. Hughes was preceded by his parents, Clifford T. Hughes and Marcola I. Hughes, two brothers, Robert P. and Walter T. Hughes, maternal grandparents, Art and Lizzie Hughes of Naylor, paternal grandparents, Oliver and Ava Hughes of Jacksonville, Fla.

Mr. Hughes was also preceded in death by his wife of 25 years, Carolyn Benefield Hand Hughes. She enjoyed with her husband, watching Atlanta Braves on TV and in her early years enjoyed going to play golf with him.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 25, 2010 in the Chapel of Lovein Funeral Home with the Rev. Larry Daughtry and the Rev. Raymond Cason officiating.

Interment will follow in the Poplar Springs Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. Lovein Funeral Home, Nashville.