Claude T. Hughes

Claude T. Hughes, Brigadier General, SC Army National Guard, Retired, 79, of Greenwood, died Monday, July 3, 2017 at Greenville Memorial Hospital. He was born in Liberty, SC to the late JT and Inez Burgess Hughes. Mr. Hughes was a former member of Lebanon Presbyterian Church in Abbeville where he served as deacon and treasurer. He retired from Milliken & Co, Eastman Chemical and was owner and operator of Lakeside ABC Store in Coronaca, SC. He was a loyal supporter of Abbeville, whether it was cheering on the Panthers, supporting local businesses or serving as a Trustee for the Abbeville County School District where he served as chairman. Mr. Hughes was a Commander of the SC Army National Guard, 111 Signal Battalion and 228 Signal Brigade. After receiving numerous accolades, he retired from the SC Army National Guard as a Brigadier General. Many of his military experiences influenced the rest of his life and provided valuable lessons that were passed down to his children and grandchildren including hard work, the value of a dollar, and loyalty. Mornings found Mr. Hughes at Godfrey’s Market in Hodges; there he and his friends solved all the problems for the day. His afternoon was most likely spent doing someone a favor and no task was too big or too small for him to handle. A master of storytelling, he could have your sides-splitting from laughter in no time. He loved his country, fishing trips with his friends, southern home cooking and serving others but there was nothing he loved more than spending time with his family. For many years, every holiday and birthday was documented on his video camera, which because of its large size was lovingly referred to as “Channel 7”. During his professional and military career he earned many titles but the one that made him most proud was the title of Gran. His kitchen is covered with artwork and cards from his grandchildren. He never missed a special day, school program or sporting event and the void of his loss will be felt indefinitely. Surviving Mr. Hughes are his two children; Kim Rodgers of Greenwood and Darren Hughes of Abbeville; three grandchildren, Burgess R. Scott (Joshua), Jay Rodgers and Dawson Hughes; a great-grandson, Hughes Scott; two brothers, Billy Hughes (Sally) and Tommy Joe Hughes (Shirley) all of Abbeville; his former wife and mother of his children, Diane Hughes Rork of Greenwood. The family will receive friends Saturday, July 8, 2017 from 1:00PM to 2:30PM at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 3:00PM Saturday, July 8, 2017 in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Charles B. ‘Chuck’ Evans officiating. Interment will follow with full military honors in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens. The family is at the residence 305 Fairway Lakes Road in Greenwood. Memorial Contributions in memory of Mr. Hughes can be made to organizations that he supported including: the American Diabetes Association, 2434 Hudson Road # 154 Greer, South Carolina, 29650 or at www.diabetes.org, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or  at www.stjude.org, or the Abbeville High School Panther Booster Club, PO Box 1214, Abbeville, SC 29620   A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com  Harris Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Abbeville is assisting the family.