Homer Hughes

Mr. Homer Hughes, 79, of Woodstock, Georgia died peacefully in his home surrounded by his family and friends on Sunday, September 14, 2014. Homer was born January 12, 1935, in McCaysville, Fannin County, Georgia, to the late Leona Davis Hughes and Homer Joseph Hughes, a copper miner. At age sixteen, he joined the regular U. S. Army and served three years, 1951-1954. He married Juanita Snyder of Dalton, Georgia, in 1954. Their daughters were born in Dalton in 1955, 1956, and 1957. They lived in Dalton until 1960 except for a few months in Fairmount. Homer’s employment with Georgia Power Company began in 1956. He retired after 36 years in 1992. The family lived in Rome, Canton, and Bremen, before moving to Woodstock in 1965. Woodstock would become their hometown.

Survivors include his wife, Juanita; daughters Sarah (Jerald) Hill of Ball Ground and Beverly (George) Porvaznik of Marietta; son-in law John Barrows of Woodstock; granddaughters Samantha Whitmire (Kevin) Daugherty of Woodstock, Jessica Whitmire (Lonnie) Lacy of Tifton, Blake Barrows of Woodstock, and Julianna Porvaznik of Marietta; grandsons John Barrows of Woodstock and Robbie Porvaznik of Marietta; great-granddaughters Regan, Millie and Taylor Daugherty and Mary Grace and Kendall Lacy; and great-grandson Gerit Daugherty. Also surviving are sisters Evelyn Quinn of McCaysville and Grace Henderson of Chatsworth; sister-in-law Katherine Hughes of Dallas; and brothers Jack (Velma) Hughes of Chattanooga and Glenn (Lois) Hughes of Mineral Bluff. Several nieces and nephews also survive. Homer was preceded in death by his daughter Mary Whitmire Barrows and siblings Pearl Hughes, Ruth Carter, Clarence Hughes, Joe Hughes and Earl Hughes.

Homer has been a member of the Woodstock Lions Club since 1966 and has held many offices, including president. He was honored by Lions for his work with the Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind in Waycross. He was chosen Lion of the Year, and was also a Melvin Jones Fellow, a very special honor. He has been a member of Stonecrest Baptist Church for 24 years. He also holds membership in Cherokee County Historical Society, Whitfield/Murray Historical Society, Preservation Woodstock (who named him their Citizen of the Year in 2003), Friends of Cherokee County Libraries, and, unofficially, in the Morning Meeting of Retired Gentlemen at Dean’s Store.

He is also a member of the Rome Chapter of Georgia Power Ambassadors, a retiree organization. He was honored as one of ten statewide Georgia Power employees to be recognized the first year of the R. W. Scherer Awards for Leadership in Community Service in 1991. The award was presented based on community involvement that exemplified the Company motto, A Citizen Wherever We Serve. Items mentioned in the nomination included his work with the development of Dupree Park; his heavy involvement in the many projects of Lions; his service on the Enon Cemetery committee; March of Dimes walkathons; Cub Scouts projects; and his enthusiastic willingness to assist the organization called Women of Georgia Power.

The funeral service will be Thursday, September 18, 2014, at 11:00am in the chapel of Woodstock Funeral Home. Officiating the service will be The Reverend Dan Parker and he will be assisted by The Reverend Charlie Pharis. Interment will follow at 2:00pm at Enon Cemetery, Woodstock. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, September 17, 2014, from 2-4pm and 6-9pm at the funeral home.

The family requests that flowers be omitted. Homer’s memory can best be honored with gifts to these organizations that represent his passions:

Woodstock Lions Club, P.O. Box 711, Woodstock GA 30188, where donations will go directly to the Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind in Waycross. Also, containers for donations of used eyeglasses will be placed at the funeral home during visitation and the service.

In recognition of Homer’s love of walking, gifts to Greenprints Alliance, P.O. Box 447, Woodstock GA 30188, will be appreciated. This organization’s task is to develop a system of walking trails within Woodstock.

Preservation Woodstock, 8588 Main Street, Woodstock GA 30188, is a group whose focus is the preservation of the heritage and culture of Woodstock, his treasured home for 49 years.

Alton Edwards, Joe Dodson, Aubry Blackstock, Bill Johnston, and Denver Rainey will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Arrangements under the direction of Woodstock Funeral Home, Woodstock, GA.