Stephen Edward Hughes

Stephen Edward Hughes, of Clermont, Florida, passed away July 7, 2026 after a five year battle with cancer. He is survived in death by his wife of 16 years, Zelma Elisabeth Hughes and his daughter, Victoria Elisabeth Hughes, 14, of Clermont, Florida. He is also survived in death by his parents, Steve and Janice Hughes of Gibsonville, North Carolina, and his in-laws Jeff and Gayle Vissage Egan of Brunswick, Georgia. Stephen was an honor graduate of Western Alamance High School, Elon, N.C. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from East Carolina University, Greenville, N.C., where he was a member of the American Fisheries Society. He also received a full scholarship to Auburn University, Auburn, Ala., where he received a Master of Science Degree in Fisheries and Allied Aquaculture, and was a member of the American Fisheries Society and the World Aquaculture Society.

Stephen worked at Southern States Farmer’s Catch in Valdosta, Georgia, as Production Manager for their Tilapia Production Facility for four years, then he was promoted to Nursery Manager for the same production facility for three years. He then found his new passion in education. While teaching in the Hamilton County School System in Jasper, Florida and Windy Hill Middle in Clermont, Florida, he began the 4H Program working to improve campus appearances, student play areas, and educating students about natural growing Florida horticulture. He soon discovered the classroom was a natural second home for him. His seamless conversations with students about science flowed effortlessly, which were also an amazement to those listening on. Creating Friday labs brought him as much excitement as his students had actually completing them. It was pure bliss watching him explain each step of an experiment to Victoria and having her get so animated, just feeding off his energy. After a decade in the middle school arena, he ventured into the high school setting. The past two years he worked with the Lake Minneola High School ESE Department, Support Facilitator in the Science Department, as well as Academic Support for the Football Team. The bonds he created with his students and student athletes gave him a new found spark in life. Stephen supported students’ athletics by creating a positive environment for academic support throughout the school year and summertime. Students and student athletes knew Coach Hughes would be there for them, no matter what. He loved these young people as much as he loved Victoria. He became an educator so he could have the time to be the father he thought Victoria deserved to have. He achieved this goal more than 100 times over. He worked for 13 years cultivating passions in Science for students in middle school and high school.

The legacy Stephen will leave behind has no words. His dad jokes brought so many eye rolls and laughs. His smile could light up a room. Those who knew him best knew he could be counted on... no matter what.

At the end of the day, Stephen did not want to be remembered as “the guy who had cancer”. He wanted to be remembered for making a positive impact on the lives he interacted with. He showed up…. Plain and simple.

Active pallbearers are Jonathan Jackson, Kiln, Mississippi, Tyler Heep, Urbandale, Iowa, Tyler Bragg, Harleysville, Pennsylvania, Jeremiah Wood, Montverde, Florida, Abre Leggings, Orlando, Florida, William Roberts, Clermont, Florida, and Mike McGlynn, Clermont, Florida. Honorary pallbearers include the Lake Minneola High School Students and Football Team.

In lieu of flowers, Stephen would like to have donations made to the following: Lake Minneola High School, Minneola, Florida, Greater Clermont Cancer Foundation, Minneola, Florida, and/or Aleutian Ballad, Ketchikan, Alaska.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Baldwin Fairchild Winter Garden Chapel on Monday, July 27, 2026 at 11:00am.