Sarah "Mickey" Stephens Hughes

Sarah (Mickey) Stephens Hughes passed away peacefully at her home on September 8, 2024. She was 93 years old. Mickey was born on October 26, 1930, in Athens, Georgia to Henry Curtis Stephens and Bonnie Warwick Stephens. Mickey grew up in Athens. Her nickname Mickey was given to her by her brother Wesley when they were children. She graduated from Athens High School in 1947. Mickey continued her education and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1951 with a degree in Sociology. She then earned a Masters of Christian Education degree from Emory University in 1955.

Mickey worked in Christian Education at churches in Greenwood, South Carolina; Montgomery, Alabama; and Cleveland, Tennessee. While in Cleveland she met her husband, Don at the Methodist Annual Conference in June of 1957 and they were married on August 24, 1957. A lifelong Methodist she was always active in her church.

She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. The family settled in Lawrenceville in 1966. While raising her children, Mickey played the piano and organ at church and taught piano lessons in her home. She continued to play for enjoyment until the end of her life. Like her mother, Mickey was also a creative seamstress. She made clothes for the whole family including her granddaughters. Another of Mickey’s creative passions was painting. Her artwork adorns many walls of her family members’ homes. Mickey was a very positive person and a source of encouragement for her family and friends.

Mickey was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years Donald Lewis Hughes and her son Harold Edward Hughes. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Brenda and David Stewart of Lilburn; two grandchildren Amanda Stewart of Lilburn and Mary Claire Stewart of Atlanta; her brother Curtis Stephens Jr. of Champaign, IL.; as well as nephews, nieces and cousins. A service to celebrate her life will be held at Lawrenceville First United Methodist Church, 395 West Crogan St., Lawrenceville, Georgia, 30046, on Saturday, September 21 at 2:00PM. The family will receive visitors at the church before the service at 1:30PM and following the service until 4:00PM. Those attending are encouraged to “wear some color” as Mickey would say.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Mickey to the Lawrenceville First United Methodist Church for the Grace Arbor Program or to the church’s general fund, P.O. Box 2127 Lawrenceville, GA 30046 https://www.lvfirst.org/give Grace Arbor is a respite program for senior adults that Mickey had played the piano at and later participated in.