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Nell Kirkley Hughes Obituary
Mrs. Nell Kirkley Hughes passed away on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Hillcrest Nursing Center. Mrs. Hughes was a lifelong resident of Magee, Mississippi and the only child of John and Susie Kirkley. She was married to Nathan Hughes.
On their farm just outside of Magee, they raised cattle, poultry and timber throughout their life while working tirelessly promoting agriculture and conservation through organizations such as Farm Bureau and Soil and Water Conservation. They were actively involved in both organizations on a local, county, state, and national level for over 50 years. Nell served as a Commissioner on the Simpson County Board of Soil and Water Conservation where she was instrumental in helping Simpson County qualify for increasing the county’s accreditation. She also helped to implement the national Grandparents for Conservation Program. Nell also served Chairman of the Simpson County Women’s Auxiliary. Throughout the years, Nell’s tireless dedication was recognized by the state of Mississippi and by the National Soil and Water Conservation Association. In 2018, Nell was inducted into the National Association of Conservation Districts Southeast Region Hall of Fame in Williamsburg, Virginia and has been the only female from Mississippi to ever be inducted.
Nell was a lifelong active member of Pine Grove Baptist Church. She was well known throughout the community for her strong faith and willingness to always help others. Many of those who loved her sought her advice in difficult times and she always freely had an open ear to listen to their problems and help advise them.
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Nell opened Hughes Florist in the 1960s and operated it for over twenty years and served on the Mississippi Florist and Nurseryman’s Association Board of Directors. Customers loved her creativity and open door to come “sit on the stool in the back and discuss whatever was on their mind.” In the florist business, one sees people at some of their highest points and at some of the most difficult times in their lives. It was during those times that Nell would share her faith and love to make those difficult times less painful she served.
Nell is survived by two sons, Joey Hughes (Gretchen) of Magee and Andy Hughes (Elizabeth) of Madison, AL; daughter in love, Janna Hughes of Pearl, MS; Grandson, Wesley Hughes (Jennifer), three granddaughters, Emily Bosse (Garrett) of Madison, AL and Anna Hughes of Harvest, AL; Abby Lewis (Dillon) of Rose Hill, MS; four great-granddaughters Brooke, Cate and Elin Hughes of Oxford, MS; Allison Bosse of Huntsville, three great-grandsons Nathan and Andrew Bosse of Huntsville and Marshall Lewis of Rose Hill, MS; one godchild Beverly Villegas (Mark) of Augusta, GA and her daughter Hannah.
Visitation for Mrs. Hughes will be Tuesday, 9:00 am-1:00 pm at Tutor Funeral Home in Magee with the Funeral Service at 2:00 pm at Pine Grove Baptist Church, 124 Gather Johnson Road, Magee MS. Interment will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery.
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