For more than nine decades Bill Hughes defied father time, consuming a diet of junk food that would trigger a heart attack in other humans; hydrating on Diet Coke; and rebuffing Meningitis, multiple bouts of Cancer, heart problems and numerous other maladies just as he had stiff-armed tacklers as a young running back. After one more good breakfast for the road, Bill passed away Sunday morning the 14th of July, 2024. He was 96.

William Arthur Hughes was born on April 25, 1928, in Norfolk, Virginia. His parents, William Jennings Bryan Hughes and Martha Elizabeth Bateman, had moved from Elizabeth City, North Carolina, to take advantage of a bustling, shipyard-fueled economy. They purchased a home in a Newport News suburb called Hilton Village, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and touted by past and present residents as an idyllic place to call home. The James River was two blocks away, just behind the elementary school, and according to Arthur (as he was called back then, long enough to learn to hate it) the school was close enough to wait until the “first bell” had rung and still make it to class on time…if he ran. Even better: his first (and only) girlfriend lived on the block in between. Arthur went on to marry Nancy Armistead Nicholson in December of 1950. They remained married until her death 59 years later.

World War II dominated his early teens, his father being one of the few with permission to buy rationed gasoline so he could work his sales route for Sunshine Cookie Company. As a 16-year-old Arthur went off to school at Augusta Military Academy near Staunton, Virginia, a town whose pronunciation he and Nancy would playfully argue over for their entire marriage. On his 18th birthday, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served for three years. 

Marriage was followed by two children and they set up homes in Newport News, Richmond, Arlington, Miami, and Jacksonville. In the late 1950’s, while Nancy used her nursing degree from the University of Virginia to support the family, Bill applied, attended, and graduated from the FAA Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City as an air-traffic controller, launching a 28-year career. Two more moves followed, to Wilmington, NC, and Savannah, Georgia, where their third and last child was born. Bill was offered another promotion if the family would relocate to Atlanta, but Nancy pronounced that life as east coast nomads was over. One more in-town move followed, to the Isle of Hope on the outskirts of Savannah, that would be home for the next 55 years. After retirement from the FAA, Arthur worked a second career for over twenty years as the “starter” on one of Skidaway Island’s golf courses.

An overview of Bill Hughes’ life would not be complete without acknowledgement of his impressive athletic prowess. A late bloomer, he never played for his high school teams, but he excelled in football as part of the Marine Corps team out of Cherry Point, North Carolina, and later for Randolph-Macon college, earning nicknames like “Spunky, Deceptive, Billy Hughes” and showing up in headlines such as, “Hughes Punts for 75 yards.” In later years, Bill was an avid, talented bowler. He also played softball for the Isle of Hope Methodist Church for over 30 years until he was 70, earning the nickname “MeHughesela” and pitching them to a church league championship in his final year. Most notable was his golfing success. His accomplishments included 14 witnessed and documented holes-in-one, two of which came at the age of 91. His best lifetime score was a 62 at Bacon Park in Savannah. None of his offspring ever came close to defeating him on the links.

Hughes gave back to his community through coaching for several years and later as a dedicated parishioner and important volunteer at the Isle of Hope United Methodist Church. For his last three decades, he was a proud grandfather and was called “Dodo”, a loving moniker bestowed upon him by his three grandsons. He also continued to dazzle family and friends by being able to sit at a piano with no practice or warm up and brighten up any party with upbeat songs from his younger years. 

He was predeceased by the love of his life, Nancy Nicholson Hughes, whom he loved with the passion of a teenager even beyond her death. He is survived by three children and their spouses, William Armistead Hughes (Beverly) of Asheville, NC, Martha Hope Harris (Rick) of San Diego, CA, and Jennings Lee Hughes, Sr. (Amy) of Savannah, GA; granddaughter Ashley Reed (Grant) of Savannah and grandsons Jennings Lee Hughes Jr. (Savannah), of Decatur, GA, William Haywood Hughes of Atlanta, GA, and Harrison MacArthur Hughes of Tampa, FL, and great grandchildren Madelyn and Alexander. 

A memorial service will be held at Isle of Hope United Methodist Church on Wednesday, July 17. The family will receive guests beginning at 9 A.M. and the service will begin at 10 A.M. He will be interred next to his beloved Nancy at Bonaventure Cemetery in a private ceremony.

Our family is particularly grateful for the role his nurse Tammy Gatch played in recent years. We know for a fact that she was a godsend approved by our Mom.