Eleanor Ann (Davis) Hughes

On Thursday, March 7th, 2024 our beloved Mother, Grandmother and Nana, Eleanor Ann (Davis) Hughes, age 85, of Stuarts Draft, VA, went to her heavenly home in peace and surrounded by her family.

Ann was born on Monday, March 21st, 1938 to Cecil H. and Eleanor E. Davis of Nellysford, VA.  She, her brothers Tracey, Mike and Ike and sisters, Mickey and Betty, grew up in Nellysford. It was also there where she met the love of her life, Donald W. Hughes, Sr.  They married on July 6th, 1954 and started a family.  They made their home in Nellysford where Ann was a Homemaker until Donald’s unexpected death on April 4th, 1967.

Ann started working at GE/Genicom in Waynesboro, VA, and moved to Stuarts Draft, VA to raise her three young children, Donnie, Dawn and David. She made many friends that became family at GE/Genicom and spoke fondly of them and her time there, often.  After 32 years of service, Ann retired.  However, retirement was really not in Ann’s nature as she then began working at Hershey Chocolate in Stuarts Draft.  She worked there for about seven years before retiring.  After her second retirement, her work centered around caring for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She referred to them her “precious angels” and her “pride and joy”.

Ann was devoted in faith and family.  She was a member of Wintergreen Christian Church in Nellysford in her younger years.  Later, she became a member of Sandsprings Baptist Church in Sherando, VA, where she taught Sunday school and directed the yearly Christmas play.  Most recently, she was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church in Stuarts Draft where she enjoyed being involved in the summer Bible school.  Her Sunday suppers were unparalleled and she welcomed all of her family, their family and friends with open arms.  She adored her family and loved nothing more than having them near.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Donald W. Hughes, Sr.; her son, Donald W. “Donnie” Hughes, Jr.; her sister, Carole “Mickey” Desper and husband, Clarence, and her brother, Tracey Davis.

She leaves behind to celebrate her life a daughter, Dawn Zimmerman of Stuarts Draft and a son, David Hughes and wife, Peggy of Hampton.  Eight grandchildren: Sherri Mayo of Waynesboro, Chad Brooks and wife, Erin, of Stuarts Draft, Nicole Dowd and husband, Jason, of Dallas, TX, Anthony Hughes and wife, Savana, of Lovingston, Katie Hughes of Waynesboro, and Lisa Hemp and husband, Trey, of Greenville; nine great-grandchildren: Courtney Muncy, Cooper Mayo, Kennedy Brooks, Brantley Hughes, Carter Hughes, Gatlin Hughes, Noah Potter, Jaxson Hemp, and Carson Hemp; a sister, Betty Groome and husband, Jack of Stuarts Draft; two brothers, Paul “Ike” Davis and wife, Donna, of Stuarts Draft and Page “Mike” Davis and wife, Wanda of Nellysford; a sister in law, Joyce Davis of Waynesboro.  

Lastly, devoted friends Susan Combs, Eddie Lunsford, John Tsakis, Larry Cullen, Yvonne Mitchell, Anne Argenbright, Twila-Gean Truslow and Doris Drumheller. 

The family will receive visitors on Sunday, March 17th, 2024 from 2pm – 6pm at the residence of her daughter, Dawn Zimmerman, in Stuart’s Draft, VA.

A memorial service will be held at Charlton and Groome in Fishersville on Monday, March 18th, 2024 at 11am.  Graveside burial will immediately follow at Beech Grove Cemetery.

At Ann’s request, her grandson, Anthony, will carry her Urn during the graveside service.

Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

The family wishes to extend a heartfelt "Thank You" to the Augusta Hospice nurses and aides & volunteers who took such wonderful care of Ann.

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