Agnes Burns Hughes

Agnes Burns Hughes, 93, a resident of Greensboro, passed away June 14, 2024. She was predeceased in death by her husband Donald Robert Hughes, of Greensboro, and her parents John P. Burns and Agnes Agnew Burns, of Boston MA.

With Don, Agnes moved South to Greensboro in 1959 when he joined Burlington Industries. Beyond her commitment to her husband of 65 years and her daughters, Suzanne and Liz, Agnes spent a lifetime in service as a volunteer, making difference in the lives of others. In 1971, she founded the Greensboro Council of Catholic Women, which still thrives today. As the first president of the GCCW, Agnes lead women from every city parish in addressing meaningful needs of various groups throughout the community.

A decade later, she began The Irish Children’s Summer Program in North Carolina. It was Agnes’s vision to offer the children of war-torn Northern Ireland an alternative to the sectarian violence that they had grown up in. Protestant and Catholic children came to North Carolina and were paired together in the homes of host families for the summer. Her efforts allowed these children to realize they could be friends instead of enemies. An untold number of children’s lives were forever changed by this program.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” Agnes chose to live her life by these words.

In addition to her daughters Suzanne Hughes Sullivan of Atlanta, GA and Elizabeth Hughes of Charlotte, Agnes is survived by her granddaughter, Blaise Sullivan; grandsons, Luke, Jude and Caspar Sullivan.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Agnes will be held June 28, 11:00 a.m., 2024 at St. Pius X Catholic Church. The family will receive friends at a reception immediately following in the Simmons Center at the church. The family asks with gratitude that memorials in Agnes’s name be made to the St. Pius X Catholic Church Building Fund, 2210 N. Elm St., Greensboro, NC 27408.

Hanes-Lineberry N. Elm Chapel is assisting the Hughes family.