Jean L. Hughes

Jean L. Hughes, 88, went to be with the Lord on Monday, July 25, 2016.

Jean was born in Revloc, Pennsylvania to Carl and Alice Anderson on November 5, 1927. She is survived by her sons, Randy (Sharon) of Ponce Inlet, Florida and Terry (Erin) of Erie, Pennsylvania; a sister, Carroll Bennett of Byron; and brothers, Carl (Susan) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Fred (Becky) of Warner Robins. She also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren, David (Rachel) of Erie, Pennsylvania, and Patrick of Norman, Oklahoma and Kelly (Joey) of Norman, Oklahoma. Her great-grandchildren include Devin, Emily, Brooklyn and Easton. A great-great-granddaughter, Lylia, was born the day after Jean's passing.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Art; her parents; as well as her sisters, Undine, Lorraine, and Elsie.

Jean spent over 35 years working for the state of Pennsylvania starting out as a secretary in the Department of Health and rising to become the Deputy Director of Vital Statistics, a position she held until retiring in 1991. And so we bid farewell to the 'Oracle' of the Anderson clan, the font of all knowledge these past years, the one who could answer all questions about relatives, places and events, who knew every lyric of songs we wished we could remember and verses to poems long forgotten from our childhood. She was, much like her mother, a very positive woman who did not tolerate nonsense and sorriness. Jean had a sharp tongue which she used sparingly, but if you were ever the recipient, you never forgot the experience. She was fiercely loyal to her family and friends and a past master of getting the last word in on any discussions by simply staring at you and saying "But then again, what do I know?" Another of her idioms used when she was building up a full head of steam during heated discussions was "it is what it is," i.e., you'd best end the discussion right now. When you left Jean's house and said that you would see her later, her response was always "Be the good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise…" That was, I think, her way of saying I am leaving you a punch line you can use after I'm gone and, once again, she was right… she said it and we have used it to remember her by her last words.

Jean had panache… not many people do… but she did. Panache is defined as possessing swagger, style, spirit, verve, élan, flair. At this time, the last words of Cyrano deBergerac from the play with the same name in which Cyrano addresses panache are appropriate, "You take everything… the laurel and the rose too. Go on, take them! But in spite of you, one thing goes with me now. And tonight, when I at last God behold, my salute will sweep his blue threshold with something spotless, a diamond in the ash… which I take in spite of you and that's… my panache.'" Jean also departs this world taking with her, her panache never to be displayed again. Goodbye then to our sweet Jeannie with the light brown hair… we shall miss you, panache, and all.

A private funeral service will be scheduled at a later date.


Funeral Home:
McCullough Funeral Home
417 S. Houston Lake Rd.
Warner Robins, GA
US 31088