Thetus Fleetwood (Register) Hughes

Thetus Hughes, 90, of Morehead City, passed away on Tuesday, August 16, 2016, at Croatan Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Newport, NC.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, August 21, 2016, at Munden Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Powell Osteen officiating. The family will receive friends an hour prior to the service.

Throughout her life, Ms. Hughes maintained a sweet and simple demeanor that won the hearts of those who knew her.  She was known for her ease in frequent conversation even with total strangers.

After graduation from high school with highest honors at the age of 17, she received multiple offers for jobs including working for the FBI.  Ultimately she took a position with Western Union and traveled across country to California with her beloved cousin and best friend, Berniece.  Upon her return to North Carolina at the age of 20, Ms. Hughes met and married Earl, the love of her life, and began her career with the Department of Agriculture in Whiteville, NC, where she remained a faithful employee for the next 34 years.

Living most of her married life at Lake Waccamaw, NC, she was an active member of her church teaching Sunday school classes for years, singing in the choir, serving on numerous committees, and holding several volunteer positions.  A beautiful soul with endless love and kindness, Ms. Hughes had a real zest for life and enjoyed chatting with her friends; playing the piano, guitar, and harmonica; going to the beach; dancing; playing Scrabble and working crossword puzzles.  She will always be remembered for her contagious smile and entertaining sense of humor but, most of all, for her unconditional love for family and friends.

She is survived by her daughter, Margie Ward and husband Bill of Morehead City; sister, Kaye Peters of Virginia Beach; grandchildren, Sharon Ward Tompkins and husband R.J., Peter Ward and wife Michaela, William “Marty” Ward and wife Maggie; great- grandchildren, Zachary Tompkins, Randall Ward, Remington Ward, Marley Ward, and Madison Ward.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford Earl Hughes; parents, John and Wilma Register; brother, John “Dale” Register; and sisters, Carrie Love Norris and Catherine Joyce Miller.

Flowers are welcome, or donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association online or by mail, Alzheimer’s Association National Office, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601.