Lou Nell Culpepper Hughes

Lou Nell Culpepper Hughes, 85, of Lake Park, died on Saturday, March 25, 2023. Born in Echols County to the late James Euell Culpepper and Cuba Loraine Kinsey Culpepper, she had been a lifelong resident of this area. Growing up in Echols County, she was a 1955 graduate of Echols County High School. Nell grew up with Daniel Hughes. They attended school together and even worked tobacco together. They began dating and then got married December 17, 1953, and were married for 64 years prior to his death in 2018. Nell began helping her Dad, Euell, prepare taxes at the age of 16 and continued until this past year. Nell felt it was not only a job, but her ministry in helping others. Many times, you would hear her praying for clients while they were preparing taxes. Nell loved and had a deep compassion for others, and she has helped generations of folks with tax preparation, both business and personal, for over 70 years now. Nell was an active member of the Bethel Church of God. She taught Sunday School for many years and was instrumental in starting the youth ministry there in the 1980’s. She was also instrumental in giving land and money for the building of the Hispanic Church of God on Kinsey Road, and donations for the building of Enoch Creek Church and Cemetery on Hwy 376 in Lake Park. They were also devoted supporters of the Church of God School of Theology in Cleveland, TN. Because of their faithful support, the Church of God School of Theology named a classroom in their honor. Nell was faithful in serving God and acknowledging Him in her ways. She never made a decision without much prayer and fasting. She awoke every day with a smile and never had a bad word to say about anyone. She enjoyed traveling with her family, spending time at her camp house in Branford and at church. While raising her family, and grandchildren, a night never ended without Bible reading and prayer. Nell was a very gracious, precious, sweet mama and friend to all who knew her.

Survivors include her two sons and a daughter in law, Basil Hughes, and Regan & Sopha Hughes all of Lake Park; two daughters and a son in law, Yvonne & Thomas Holt of Suwannee, FL and Cuba & Rusty McLeod of Lake Park; eight grandchildren, Daniel (& Chrissy) Hughes of Jasper, FL, Dana (& Jason) Bell of Delhi, LA, Pamela Taylor of Lake City, FL, Shanna, Richard, Megan, Alayna and Alyssa Hughes, all of Lake Park. Also surviving are her sister and brother in law, Sandy & Jim Rentz, of Lake Park and a brother in law, Lynn & Sandra Hughes of Lake Park and seven great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Daniel Hughes, a son Avery Hughes, daughter in law, Sandra Hughes, brothers, Vernon Culpepper and Brooks Culpepper and her sisters Luverne C. Wheeler, and Elaine Henderson.

The funeral for Mrs. Hughes will be held at 3 pm on Thursday, March 30, 2023, at Bethel Church of God. Pastor Dale Dansby, Pastor Darryl Pate, Pastor Bobbi Lowrey and Pastor Bobby Tatum will officiate, and The Quint Shepherd Singers will be doing the music. Burial will follow at Enoch Creek Cemetery. Nell will lie in state at 2578 J Frank Culpepper Road and the family will receive friends there on Tuesday evening from 5 – 8 pm, and on Wednesday from 4 – 7 pm. Flowers will be accepted and condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page of www.mclanecares.com McLane Lakewood Funeral Home