Ms. Shirley Ann Hicks Hughes, 73, of Huntsville (formerly of Camp Hill) died Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville, AL. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Centerview Baptist Church, 4460 CR-89 Camp Hill at 12:00 p.m. (CST) with Rev. Don Darius Butler, officiating. Interment will be in Ozias Baptist Church Cemetery, Camp Hill. The remains will lie in state at the church from 11:00 a.m. (CST) until the funeral hour. Public viewing will be Friday, March 31, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (CST) at Vines Funeral Home.
Ms. Hughes was born December 13, 1949, to the late Mr. Hosea Hicks and Mrs. Icy Belle Hicks in Camp Hill, AL. She passed into eternal rest on March 22, 2023.
Ms. Hughes confessed Christ at an early age, uniting with Centerview Baptist Church of Camp Hill, AL. She later moved her letter of membership to First Missionary Baptist Church, Huntsville, AL, under the leadership of Pastor (Emeritus) Dr. Julius R. Scruggs. She loved working in the church and was very loyal and committed to the mission and vision of the churches she was a member.
Ms. Hughes’ love of reading started at an early age when her parents would save their money to give to Shirley to purchase books from the bookmobile that came through the community. Her love of reading and writing impacted and motivated her to become an educator. Upon graduation from Edward Bell High School, she continued her education at Alabama A&M University (AAMU). While attending AAMU, she met Bobby M. Hughes. Once both completed their degrees of study, they married in 1972. Shirley graduated from AAMU with a Bachelor of Science degree in English.
Ms. Hughes was employed by the Huntsville City School System where she taught English and Literature at S.R. Butler High School. It was here where lifetime friendships formed with her fellow colleagues and her students whom she affectionately referred to as “my babies”. While teaching at Butler, she also served as the senior class sponsor for many years. She returned to AAMU and earned a Master’s Degree in English and later, in Public Administration.
After teaching for 17 years, Shirley became an Assistant Principal at Westlawn Middle School, where she loved and nurtured a variety of students. She remained at Westlawn until becoming the principal at Davis Hills Middle School. From there, she worked for the Huntsville City Schools Board of Education in Pupil Services.
Her final place of employment was Calhoun Community College, where she served as Assistant to the President for Human Resources and Community Services. She was a member of Phi Delta Kappa and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Shirley spent over 35 years educating and mentoring students and other young aspiring educators.
Left to cherish her memories are her only son, Angus Hughes (Shad) of Huntsville, AL; nephews, Warren Pitts, LaFayette, AL; Brandon Holloway, Lakeview, AL; nieces: Greta Brooks, League City, TX; Tanya Holloway (Nikki), Auburn, AL; Carolyn and Kimberly Carwell, LaFayette, AL; great nephew, Key’lun Powell, LaFayette, AL; two great nieces; Cayla Brooks, Tuskegee, AL; Camille Holloway, Lakeview, AL; and a host of cousins, relatives, friends, and students (“her babies”).
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Vines Funeral Home, Inc., LaFayette, AL is handling the arrangements.