Louise Hughes

Emma Louise Frye Hughes died on Sunday, December 5, 2021, at age 95. She was preceded in death by her parents, William A. and Anna Mae Kelley Frye, her husband Charles A. Hughes to whom she would have been married 75 years, her brother John Clark Frye, and her sister Dortha Frye Barr.

Louise was born in Athens on November 7, 1926. She graduated at the top of her class from McMinn County High School and attended business college in Knoxville. She returned to Athens, where she worked at First Farmers Bank and became the first elected female Bank Officer and Bank Vice-President in the Athens area.

Louise was a life-long member of North Athens Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School, was an active member of the church’s music program, and held numerous offices in church leadership. She deeply loved her family and was known as a wonderful cook, who enjoyed preparing favorite meals at holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions until she was well into her nineties.

She is survived by a daughter Phyllis and her husband Steve Byrum from Signal Mountain, and a son Alan and his wife Claire from Knoxville. She took great delight in her grandchildren—Philip Byrum and his wife Katie, Elizabeth Hughes Sigman and her husband Mark, Aaron Hughes and his wife Ashley, and Meredith Brown and her husband Sullivan—who all adored their “Mimi,” as did her 7 great-grandchildren, May, Charlie, Olivia, Tate, Braden, Adley, and Bradford.

The family would like to express thanks to the staff of Morning Pointe Assisted Living and to Robin Muller, her special caregiver for several years.

A private graveside service for the family will be held at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Athens, where she will be laid to rest alongside her husband, her parents, and other family members.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association or a charity of your choice. Visit www.laycock-hobbs.com/obituaries/Louise-Hughes to share condolences with the family or any personal tributes to Louise. Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.