Sonny Leslie Hughes

Sonny Leslie Hughes

February 10, 1955 – February 26, 2014

  Sonny Leslie Hughes, 59, of Bailey passed away Wednesday.  A graveside funeral service will be conducted 3 p.m.  Saturday in Person Memorial Cemetery, Roxboro, NC.  The Rev. Dr. Jack Watson will officiate. The family will receive friends 10 – 12 Saturday at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson. Sonny was a graduate of North Carolina Wesleyan University and received his MBA from Pfeiffer University.  He was a mechanical engineer, most recently working with HIPP Engineering in Raleigh.  Sonny was a member of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church in Bailey.  He was an accomplished guitarist, playing with several bands through the years, most recently East Coast Rhythm and Blues.  He gave guitar lessons at the Middlesex Children’s Home.   Sonny was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to all that knew him.  He was deeply loved and admired and will be thought of often with memories that will last a lifetime. Sonny is survived by his wife, Maria R. Hughes of the home; his mother, Beatrice Stapleton of Danville, VA; his sister, Jo Ellen White of New York; his brother, David Hughes of Danville, Virginia; his granddaughters, Hailey Bissette of Wilson and Maria and  Isabelle Hughes both of Franklin, NC; his grandson, Nicholas Hughes of Franklin, NC; his step-daughter, Kali Radford and husband, Billy of Wilson; his step-sons, Jonathan Hillis of Nashville and Benjamin Hillis of Wilson and his uncle, Nelson Chambers of Roxboro. Flowers are welcome or memorials may be directed to the Nash County Animal Shelter, 921 North First Street, Nashville, NC  27856 or the ASPCA, 424 East 92^nd Street, New York, New York  10128-6804. Condolences may be directed to www.joyners.net.