ELOISE CAVERLEE HUGHES

1920-2011

Eloise C. Hughes was born on February 17, 1920, in Richmond, Virginia and passed away on March 13, 2011.
She was a devout Christian of the Baptist faith all of her life, having grown up in the church pastored by her father, Dr. Robert F. Caverlee, a prominent Baptist minister in Virginia. She inherited from her mother, Lillian W. Caverlee, a love of the Lord and a wonderful talent of playing the organ and the piano.
She graduated from Mary Washington College, taught school in Virginia for a period, and then married James S. Hughes of Warrenton, Virginia, a civil engineer and graduate of the Virginia Military Institute.
Her husband served in the army in World War II, and after his discharge, she continued as a mother and housewife. Her husband served as a city manager in Virginia, North Carolina and finally in Pompano Beach, Florida where they lived for many years before moving to Panama City in 1988.
She was always active in community service and in church work, using her amazing musical talent in both areas. While living in south Florida, she wrote numerous articles as Society Columnist for the Pompano Beach Sun Sentinel and had articles published in some of the local magazines. While living in Panama City, she and her husband traveled often, and she was very active in the Bay Point Women's Club and in First Baptist Church of Panama City religious activities.
She would say repeatedly that she was blessed and fortunate enough to see her sons marry, be involved in her grandchildren growing up, attending her grandchildren's weddings in Panama City and glorying in visits from her great grandchildren.
After her husband's death in 1992, she continued to be active in community, religious and church affairs until health issues caused her to move to Belvedere Commons three years ago.
She was a very active member of the Belvedere Commons community, teaching a bible class once a week, playing the piano for the residents at special events and at times just for their listening enjoyment, and playing bridge with some of her friends.
She will be missed by all whose lives she touched, in particular her close family.
She is survived by her sons, J. Robert (Bob) Hughes and his wife Judy of Panama City, Richard W. Hughes and his wife Clare Rhoades of Santa Fe, New Mexico, her grandchildren, J. Robert (Robbie) Hughes Jr. and wife Kristi of Panama City, Hilary E. Hughes – Decatur and husband Tommy of Athens, Georgia, Justin Rhoades and wife Jessica of Los Angeles, California and Caitlin Rhoades of Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is also survived by her sister, Barbara June Shuler and husband Tom of Lynchburg, Virginia, brother-in-law Thomas M. Hughes of Warrenton, Virginia, sister-in-law Virginia E. Hughes of Culpeper, Virginia, great grandchildren Savannah Hughes, Brady Hughes and Dawson Hughes of Panama City, and much loved nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews.
Her parents, Dr. Robert F. Caverlee and Lillian W. Caverlee predeceased her, as did her sister Carolyn Billingsly.
Honorary pallbearers will be Robbie Hughes, Frank Billingsly, Tom Shuler, Tommy Shuler, Justin Rhoades and Neil Justice.
Funeral services will be held for Eloise in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 24, 2011, with visitation to precede the service at 10:30 a.m. on March 24, 2011, also at Wilson. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1200, Panama City, FL 32402.

Wilson Funeral Home