Edna Adelaide Hughes-Jones

Edna Adelaide Hughes was born April 27, 1928 in Hot Coal, West Virginia to Robert Raymond and Edna Jane Hughes. Edna was named after her mother and was called Adelaide to differentiate between the two. At the age of 12 the family moved to Beckley, West Virginia where she grew up.

Adelaide accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age. She was a devout Christian throughout her life.  She attended and was a member of Hartford Avenue Baptist Church later named Hartford Memorial Baptist Church.

Adelaide graduated from Stratton High School in Beckley, West Virginia in 1946. After high school she attended West Virginia State College receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in English. Adelaide was initiated into the Alpha Delta chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. in 1947 while attending West Virginia State. She remained an active member throughout her life, eventually becoming a Lifetime Diamond Member. Adelaide then went on to attend The Ohio State University where she earned her Master’s Degree in Education.

Adelaide then ventured to the state of Maryland where she taught English for a few years before relocating to Detroit, Michigan; where she would go on to teach high school English for 35 years before retiring. The majority of those years were spent teaching at Redford High School in the Detroit Public School System.  She taught at Wayne County Community College during this period as well.  Adelaide was an excellent teacher and she had wonderful relationships with her students. It was not uncommon for her former students to recognize and approach her thanking her for contributing to their success.

In 1968, she was joined in holy matrimony with Clarence Homer Jones and they lived in Detroit together until his passing in 2011. Although she had no children, she was a very involved Aunt that had special relationships with all of her siblings’ children.  In particular, she celebrated all of her holidays with her niece, whom she referred to as daughter, Kimberly Fairman and her family.  She was also Godmother to her sister’s daughter MarRonde Adelaide Lotson. 

Adelaide had a very close relationship with her brother Raymond. The two lived within three blocks of each other for over 50 years enjoying each other’s company.  After their spouses passed, they were inseparable and a wonderful support system for each other.  They spoke or saw each other daily and helped each other with life’s daily tasks.

Adelaide had a wonderful sense of humor and a strong positive energy. She was very generous and caring to the many loved ones in her life. Adelaide always had a listening ear, kind heart, and generous nature to all, not to mention great advice. 

God called Adelaide to her heavenly rest on June 12, 2022, shortly after her 94^th birthday.  She was preceded in death by her parents Robert Raymond Hughes, and Edna Jane Hughes; two brothers, Edmond Hughes and Goldwin Hughes; and one sister, Farnese Lumpkin.

Her memory will be cherished by her brother Raymond Hughes of Detroit, MI; two nephews: Thornton Hughes (Madonna) of Birmingham, Michigan; Robert Hughes (Marilyn) of New Bern, North Carolina; Seven nieces: Kimberly Fairman (Joel) of Brighton, Michigan; Lisa Hauser (Doug) of DeWitt, Michigan; MarRondeLotson (Marcus) of Savannah, Georgia; Arva White (Randall) of Georgia; Edwenda Ford of St. Louis, Missouri; Theresa Hughes of Goldsboro, North Carolina;and Michelle Booker (Kevin) of Maricopa, Arizona; and a host of grand nieces, grand nephews, cousins, and friends.