Harold Ransom Hughes, Sr.

October 3rd 1921 - February 11th 2015

Memoriam

Harold Ransom Hughes, Sr., age 93, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at the Yalobusha General Nursing Home in the presence of his family. He was born on October 3,1921, in the Hattan Community of Yalobusha County to Paul Ransom Hughes and Beulah Crenshaw O’Bryant Hughes, in the home where his father and grandfather, James Ransom Hughes, were also born. Harold attended public schools in the Sylva Rena community as well as in Oakland, Mississippi, and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps after December, 1941. He served in India and Burma for the China Offensive 1942 – 1946, with the rank of PFC. He survived a plane crash in Egypt during his deployment. He was awarded a World War II Victory Medal and was honorably discharged on April 2, 1948. On January 6, 1950, Harold married the love of his life, Mary Catherine Carroll (Blondie), with whom he shared sixty-four years of married life and five children until her death in 2014.

Harold loved farming the land where his grandparents had labored, and where he worked for his great-aunt and uncle until his retirement. Following his retirement, he continued to work the land for the Brooks Brothers Farms where he remained until he officially retired. Harold enjoyed gardening, bird-watching, bird feeding, target shooting, and traveling with his family. He also loved working in his woodwork shop. He leaves a legacy of teaching the conservation of natural resources and an appreciation of the beauty in Creation to his children, as well as a love of God and country.

Harold was a member of Sylva Rena Baptist Church where he enjoyed the Brotherhood Breakfasts; he was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Legion. He also donated to the Disabled American Veterans.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Katy Allyne Hughes Kiihnl, a brother, Ray Bryant Hughes, and his wife.

Survivors include his five children: Anne (Bill) Callaway of Greenville, Mississippi, Linda (Gary) Williamson, Kenny (Yvonne) Hughes and Harold Ransom, Jr. (Wan), all of Water Valley, and Kathy (Carl) Latham of Grenada. He leaves seven grandchildren: Allyson (Mark) Grubbs of New Albany, Mississippi, Nicole (Rodney) Eubanks, Michael Hughes and Mark Hughes, all of Water Valley, William Callaway, III of Greenville, Mississippi, Harold Evans Callaway, U.S. Air Force, Italy, and Chelsea Kathryn Latham of Woodlawn, Arkansas. He also leaves three great-grandchildren: Rayna and Hayden Eubanks of Water Valley and Chloe Kathryn Grubbs of New Albany. Harold is also survived by his sister, Jane Hughes Turner Latham of Greenville, North Carolina.

Services celebrating the life of Mr. Hughes are at 11 a.m., Saturday, February 14, 2015 at the Sylva Rena Baptist Church with interment following in the Pinecrest Memorial Garden in Water Valley. Visitation will be held at Sylva Rena Baptist Church from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, February 13, 2015. National Funeral Home in Grenada is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to the Yalobusha General Nursing Home, Sylva Rena Baptist Church or to the Gideons.

Service Information

Visitation At:
Sylva Rena Baptist Church from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, February 13, 2015.

Funeral At:
Sylva Rena Baptist Church

Sign the Guestbook

If you need help finding the right words, view our suggested entries for ideas.