Jerrell Eugene Hughes

OPELIKA, Ala. — Jerrell Eugene Hughes, 84, died at East Alabama Medical Center on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016, in Opelika, Ala.

Mr. Hughes is survived by his two sons, Michael Eugene Hughes and wife Sharon of Pawley’s Island, S.C., and Douglas Frank Hughes and wife Leigh of McDonough, Ga.; grandchildren, Laura and Kelly Hughes of Pawley’s Island, S.C. and Hadleigh and Sawyer Hughes of McDonough, GA; and sister Hattie Mae Hughes Cox of Abilene, Texas. He is preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Gene Bullard Hughes.

He was born on Sept. 10, 1931, in Moultrie to Bud and Sadie Hughes. He graduated from Moultrie High School in 1948. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951 and was trained in engineering. He was stationed in Tokyo, Japan. He married Gene Bullard of Camilla, Ga. in 1955.

Jerrell worked for 42 years in the Instrument Engineering Division of the National Weather Service. He worked for 10 years in Tifton, Ga., at the University of Georgia agricultural facility and for 27 years at Auburn University and continued to reside in Auburn after his retirement. He was given a Silver Medal Award in 1980 for Meritorious Federal Service. He was a member of Lakeview Baptist Church.

Visitation is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016, at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home in Opelika, Ala., from 12:30 p.m.-2 p.m. with a chapel service beginning at 2 p.m. and burial service following directly after at Town Creek Cemetery in Auburn, Ala. Pastor John Dale Rector will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Jerrell’s life.

Donations may be made to the American Heart Association at https://donatenow.heart.org.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home & Crematory, www.jeffcoattrant.com, is directing.

Please leave condolences for the family at www.moultrieobserver.com.