Obituary of Brenda Jean Davis Hughes

Brenda Jean Davis Hughes, of Forest City, North Carolina, passed away on January 30, 2023, just a week shy of her 76th birthday.

Brenda is the daughter of the late Raymond Davis and Edith Cochran Davis, and sister to the late Ken Davis and Gwen Davis. She is survived and missed by her husband of 53 years, Fred Carson Hughes, Jr.; her children, Heather and David Kitzman, and Holly and Timm Kerwin; her granddaughter Athena Kitzman; her brothers and sisters, Danny and Rhonda Davis, Joan and Carroll Humphries, Jill Gregory, Joyce Davis, and Roger and Missy Hughes; her nieces and nephews, John Davis, Ashleigh Winkie, Allison McCord, Emily Pitts, Kate Hughes, Aaron Hughes, Lydia Jordan, Stacey Land, Melissa Henry.

Before she began her fight with Alzheimer’s Disease, Brenda lived a life full of family and music and stories. She shared her love of literature with students at RS Central High School. She guided her daughters through Narnia and Camelot and fairyland, and sang to them songs all her own. She stayed up late on winter nights, watching at the window for the first snowflakes to fall. She danced on the porch on summer Sunday nights, and sang along with the Platters on long drives to Sunset Beach. She baked the best squash casserole and lemon pound cake anyone ever tasted, though her husband would argue her chocolate pound cake and potato salad were even better. She played Scrabble with her lifelong friend Beth Harmon, accompanied by endless cups of coffee and more stories, more laughter.

Later in life, she set her clock by politics on MSNBC and Hallmark Christmas movies and Outlander novels, until she could no longer understand the words or even hear the melodies of the songs she loved.

But her children still bake her cakes and casseroles, and they still hang her favorite ornaments on their Christmas trees. They watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas and say out loud how much they love cartoon snow. Her granddaughter, Athena still sings her Meema’s songs. And Fred still loves Brenda more than peanut butter.

The family would like to thank the staff at Colonial Gardens Alzheimer’s Assisted Living and All-Seasons Hospice for their patient and steadfast care. There will be no formal services. In lieu of flowers, please remember Brenda by spending time with your family and friends, and loving them while they’re here.

South Carolina Cremation Society is assisting the family. Family and friends may sign the online guest book by clicking on the “Tribute Wall” tab above.