Julia L. Hughes

The child of Ambers and Flora Lipham, Julia grew up in Anniston, Alabama, and attended Carpenter Memorial Methodist Church as a child. Studying piano from the age of eight, she rose through the ranks of student pianists to be chosen by her teacher to play “The Flight of the Bumblebee” in her recital – a high honor, indeed! Julia’s mother sang hymns while she worked around the house, and “His Eye is On the Sparrow” became the song embedded in little Julia’s heart. Her school years were full of choral singing, and she went on to study voice and piano at Snead State and Birmingham-Southern College.

Julia met her sweetheart, Dan Hughes, in college. They married at Fairfield United Methodist Church, where Dan and she became valued choir members. A frequent soloist, Julia had her specialties that “made the old folks cry,” especially “Sweet Little Jesus Boy.” After Fairfield UMC closed its doors, Julia and Dan joined Bluff Park UMC. Julia joined the choir and enjoyed many seasons singing there. She also sang with the Alabama Symphony Chorus for two years with her daughter and granddaughter.

Julia and Dan were blessed with a daughter, Suzanne, and son-in-law Dee Scivley, and a son, Brett, and daughter-in-law Myriam Peereboom. Suzanne and Dee presented them with two beautiful, brilliant granddaughters, Jen and Jessy (Adam McCormick), and Brett presented them with two handsome, intelligent grandsons, Austen and Connor.

A voracious reader and lifelong learner, Julia filled her home with books about philosophy, romance, history, fantasy, adventure, cooking, art, religion, and travel. She and Dan loved to travel to the Gulf Coast, to the mountains around Gatlinburg, and especially to Carmel, California. Their adventures also took them to San Francisco, Vail, New York City, London, and Paris.

Julia worked in retail for many years, primarily in furniture sales – she had a wonderful eye and a gift for decorating. She helped her dear friend Sarah McCleskey prepare for and set up for countless art shows, and they spent many days solving all the problems in the universe (but did not tell anyone else how to do it). They also became “other mothers” to each other’s children.

Julia was also blessed to have many special family and friends, some who have gone ahead, and some who are still here. Her sister Lennis Brown’s family was especially dear to her, as were her brother and sister-in-law, Leete and Dotsy Lipham. The Kitchens Family Reunion will never be quite the same again.

A memorial service will be held in the sanctuary at Bluff Park United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 28, 2019. Visitation will be at the same location, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please make donations to the music ministry at either Bluff Park United Methodist Church or Sylacauga First United Methodist Church or to your favorite charity.