WILMINGTON — Becky Holcomb Hughes, 93, of Wilmington, North Carolina died September 28, 2022 at The Lower Cape Fear Life Care Center.
Born November 29, 1928 in Selma, Alabama she was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Clifford Craven Hughes, Jr., and a daughter Becky Lynn Hughes Spence.
Becky was a 1949 graduate of East Carolina Teachers College in Greenville, North Carolina and was the first elected ECTC Buccaneer Girl. She was also the first married Homecoming Queen in 1951. She taught science and biology in Stokes, North Carolina before her first child arrived in 1953.
After moving to Alexandria, Virginia in 1963, Becky devoted herself to raising her four children and serving various church and community organizations. She was active in the establishment, restoration and design of Washington Farm Methodist Church. She and her husband held bible studies in their home for over 10 years.
In 1970 Becky started her award-winning interior design business, Becky Hughes Interiors, working independently and with her husband in the design and construction of custom-built luxury homes and commercial properties in the Alexandria, Virginia area. She was also a talented floral arranger and gardener. She retired in Wilmington with her husband in 1992.
A voracious reader, her perpetual curiosity in the arts, history, architecture, antiques, science, and photography led to travels to all historical sites in Virginia, as well as trips to Russia, Italy, Germany, England and Switzerland. A lover of people, she never met a stranger and made friends wherever she went. She referred to everyone as “darlin,” a signature phrase that often disarmed even the most stoic.
While traveling in Italy, she spent a day touring Pompeii alone. Encountering a man who attempted to pick her pocket, she quickly reversed the situation and came home instead with multiple photographs of the grinning man repose on various columns and benches at the site, her wallet intact. While on tour of England researching her ancestral home site, she made friends with the owners of a B&B. The couple visited Wilmington in turn and Becky hosted their daughter when she chose to participate in an exchange program at UNCW.
It’s difficult to sum up Becky’s life in a few paragraphs. What mattered most to her was her love of God, her children, her grandchildren and beloved friends. She maintained close friendships with 6 of her college buddies for over 70 years. Her grandchildren called her Honey. Her strong life force seemed unquenchable. We will miss her bright smile and sparkling bluegrey eyes.
She is survived by her son, Clifford Craven Hughes III of Abita Springs, Louisiana; daughters Leigh Hughes Bravo (Claudio) of Gainesville, Virginia; and Kimbre Hughes Metts of Wilmington, North Carolina; her grandchildren Alex Hughes, Caileigh Bravo, Bo Metts, Ayden and Branden Bravo and numerous nephews, and nieces.
She will be buried in Grifton, North Carolina next to her grandmother, mother, brother, aunt, and daughter at a private service scheduled for a later date.
We would like to thank all the lovely people at The Laurels of Pender and The Lower Cape Fear Life Center who took such good care of our mom.
Contributions to the Lower Cape Fear Life Center at 1414 Physicians Drive in Wilmington are appreciated.
