Mr. Melvin Anthony (Tony) Hughes, 75

Mr. Melvin Anthony (Tony) Hughes, 75, of Lumber City, died June 9 at his residence.
Mr. Hughes was born June 18, 1947, in Jeff Davis County.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Melvin Mathew Hughes and Ella Faye Wheeler Hughes, son, Paul Varnadoe, grandson, Ethan Fordham, sisters, Pearl Newham, Mary Medders, Anita Silas, brothers, BJ Hughes, Johnny Hughes, Charles Dyal, Johnny Dyal, and Roger Dyal.
Tony was a true patriot and loved his country dearly. He served in the United States Army, was a Vietnam Veteran, and was an active member of the Jeff Davis County Veterans Association. He enjoyed spending time outdoors, especially sitting on his front porch listening to the wind blow, also fishing, and turkey hunting. One of his hobbies was woodworking and would make walking sticks for Veterans and his friends. He loved his family dearly and especially his grandchildren and spending time with them.
Survivors include his wife, Donna Pealock Hughes, of Lumber City; sons, Sean (Michelle) Hughes of Jacksonville, Fla., Myron Cauley of Washington State, Dakota (Christina) Hughes of Hazlehurst, Matthew (Lindsay) Varnadoe of Weir, Kansas, Andrew (Casey) Varnadoe of Lumber City, Daniel (Holly) Varnadoe of Jeffersonville, and James (Brenda) Varnadoe of Lumber City; daughters, Shannon Hughes of Utah and Lori (Keegan) Burch of Douglas; sisters, Sandra Taylor of Hazlehurst and Deborah (Jr.) Mimbs; 23 grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Services were held June 12 at Doe Lee Pecan Grove Venue in Telfair County with Chaplain Carroll Walker and the Rev. Joe McLeod officiating and with the assistance of the Jeff Davis Veterans Association. Interment followed in Fishing Creek Cemetery with military honors presented by J.D.V.A. and with Terry Hesters playing Taps.
Active pallbearers were Matthew Varnadoe, Andrew Varnadoe, Daniel Varnadoe, James Varnadoe, Caleb Varnadoe, and Dobbie Cauley.
Wainright-Parlor Funeral Home was in charge.