Jack Hughes, a beloved uncle and the eldest of my mother’s three younger brothers, died Easter weekend of natural causes. He was 86 years old.
I’ll remember Jack as one of the most decent, honest, and loyal human beings I’ve ever encountered. While he wasn’t wealthy in a material sense, he was rich beyond measure in the love and admiration he received from his friends and family members. Family was important to Jack, and because I was his first nephew in what would become a long line of nieces and nephews, I was therefore important to him. He made my younger brother and I feel that importance from an early age onward, and I always loved him for it.
When I was a young boy and confronted with the death or serious illness of a family member, Jack would always be there, his caring and inner strength a much needed boost, in effect wrapping me in a blanket of comfort and well-being before such an event could overwhelm me. As I got older, Jack would still be there when those same conditions arose, still providing that calming, reassuring presence with such ease and dependability. When bad things happened, I looked for Jack. And, inevitably, I would always find him. I loved him for that, too.
Jack enjoyed a laugh, and after he married Barbara, he laughed a lot. Both he and Barbara had previously experienced the painful loss of a spouse, so they were ready to laugh, needed to laugh. We have an exceptionally strong tradition of storytelling in our family, and we found that Barbara could turn a tale to match any of us. Barbara was good for Jack, and good for our family. As for Jack, he didn’t have the sort of fragile ego that kept him from laughing at himself. He could needle and be needled, giveth and receiveth, and always in fun. A room was a brighter, better place with Jack in it.
When it came time to answer the dinner bell, Jack had no shame in being the first through the food line. In fact, if Jack wasn’t the first to spoon his way through the home-cooked Southern goodness spread out before him, who knew what might’ve transpired? Not to worry, though. It never happened.
Jack and I talked often of Chicago, a city he called home for a time in the Fifties, and a place I have visited often. In my childhood he sent me a baseball that had been fouled into the Wrigley Field stands by Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn of the Phillies. I still have that old baseball in my closet, safely ensconced in the pocket of my equally old glove. It’s not Richie Ashburn whom I think of when I see that ball. No, I think of Jack. Always Jack.
Any person would be truly blessed to have such an uncle as Jack Hughes. I was so blessed, and I’ll be eternally grateful for Jack’s presence and influence in my life. In fact, I was blessed with three such uncles, two of whom remain as friends and lifelong role models. Just like Jack.
Thank you, Uncle Jack, for the great example you provided for me. For all you gave me. For all you taught me. For all the times I looked for you and found you when you could have been elsewhere. You were greatly loved. And you will be greatly missed.
beautiful post Gerald. You can see the love in your words. Your Uncle sounds like a great man and someone who lived his life to the fullest and best way possible.
Thanks, Courtney. He was indeed a great man, and was greatly loved.
Jerry, this is a wonderful tribute to your Uncle Jack. All of our family feel the same way about him that you expressed above, and we were all very blessed to have had him in our lives for such a long time — and to know that we will meet again someday and spend all eternity together! Love, Pat and Jimmy
Thanks, Pat. You’re so right–we were (are) blessed as a family.
Thank you for sharing this with us Gerald. We need more people like Uncle Jack.
Thanks, Carel. Couldn’t agree more.
Thank you, Jerry. Uncle Jack left many precious memories with me that I will cherish forever. I remember sitting on his lap while he read the Sunday comics to me as a child. I cherished the little brown rocking chair he gave me. He always dressed nice and smelled so good. I loved our long talks on the phone and the stories he would tell me when we drove through Atlanta. The AJC will forever be referred to in this house as the “fish wrapper” because of him. I love him and I can’t wait to see him in heaven. I pray I showed him how much I loved him while he was alive. Thank you for your memories of our Uncle Jack. He will be missed. Our Hughes family is a Special and very BLESSED family. I love you! ❤❤
Well said, Rhonda. Thank you.
Gerald… this is a beautiful post to honor your uncle. I had an uncle pass away recently and it reminded me of how he inspired me to look at things differently. Thanks for sharing you heart. Blessings!
Thanks, Tim. Glad you had an inspirational uncle too.
Wow.That we could all leave such a legacy Gerald. Thank you for taking the time to articulate how much he meant you and how his life impacted you for the better. Beautiful!
Thanks, Becky. Much appreciated.
What a touching tribute to your uncle. I love the included photograph and know that you will treasure his memory always. God bless!
Thanks for your comment, Mandie.
What a lovely tribute! Thank you for sharing your personal stories and memories of such a great man and influence on your life.
Thanks, Natalie. Appreciate the kind comment.