Susan Hughes' Obituary
Susan Cheek Smith Hughes, died peacefully at Trezevant Manor in Memphis on Friday, November 6, age 89. Sue was born and raised in Memphis; she never lived anywhere else. Sue Cheek was the daughter of J. Frazer Smith, a noted architect and Ada McDonnell Smith. She was born April 14th 1926. After graduating from the Hutchison School she attended the College of Engineering at the University of Texas where she majored in Architecture. She was awarded the University’s top Engineering Prize her senior year. While at UT, she also served as chapter president of the Chi Omega Sorority. After graduating she practiced architecture in her father’s firm where she served as a project architect and was admitted to membership in The American Institute of Architects. Her first projects were assisting in the design and construction of numerous Mid-South hospitals funded under the Hill Burton Act. Her hospital work also included helping in the design of Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. It was one of her favorite projects because she grew up helping her Mother and other volunteers in raising funds to see the vision of a children’s hospital in Memphis come to fruition. In 1950 Sue married the late Burr Durrel Hughes. They had three children. Sue always served her community. She was president of the Le Bonheur Women’s Organization, and Les Passees. She was active in the King’s Daughters and Chi Omega Alumni. Sue greatly enjoyed flower arranging and belonged to two flower clubs. She was an avid golfer, enjoyed playing bridge and and continued her interest in art with oil painting and needlepoint. Some of the family treasures are the exquisite personally designed needle point Christmas stockings she created for each of her family members. She always enjoyed learning and exploring new places through travel. In addition to her volunteer work she was active in her church, Saint Louis Catholic Church. She was a founding member. She was involved with Saint Louis’ auxiliaries and was a frequent lay reader. She was a devout Christian and studied with Community Bible Study for over 30 years and served as a leader for 25 of those years. In a remarkable and thoughtfully lived and varied life, Sue used her many talents to achieve success and to help and comfort others. She was greatly beloved by all her family. She is survived by her children Susan Hughes Hoehn ( Bill) of Rancho Santa Fe, CA, Burr Hughes (Suzanne) of Memphis and Frazer Hughes Hendricks of Prince William County VA, 10 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren; her sister Margaret Smith Holland of Holly Springs, MS. A Memorial Reception will be held Saturday, Dec. 5th at Trezevant Manor Performing Arts Center. A mass celebrating Sue’s life will be held at St. Louis Catholic Church Sunday, Dec. 6th at 9am. The family will have a private funeral. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions could be sent to The Dixon Gallery or the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. check payable to: Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018 “Sue Hughes Memorial Fund.” Her services have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis TN 38119 (901) 767-8930. “Celebrating Life Behind the Stone Wall.”
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