Donzella Jacqueline Hughes

Donzella Jacqueline Hughes

On Sunday, April 26, 2020, just a week after her birthday, our heavenly Father reached out and took Jackie’s hand, relieved her from all pains and sickness, gave her the crown of glory, and welcomed her into His eternal home. In His bosom, there will be no more sickness, disease, infections, afflictions, viruses, nor death.

All of us who know Jackie can imagine seeing her smiling and saying “hallelujah, hallelujah, I made it!” Then she would break out into a shout!

Jackie was a member of New Bethel COGIC and her pastor was Elder Anthony Lillard. She always told anyone who would listen, “I love my pastor and I love going to my church!” Because of her illness and physical limitations, she was blessed to have Sis. Gracie Haskins picking her up on Sundays for church service and afterwards taking her to dinner. The love that they shared was an enduring love. Sis. Haskins treated Jackie as if she were a close member of the family. Jackie knew there was “nobody like Gracie.”

Prior to joining New Bethel COGIC, she was a long-time member of the New Hope COGIC where her uncle, Bishop Herman Clark, Sr. was her pastor. Jackie got her foundation in the church from the teachings and preaching of her beloved pastor. New Hope was Jackie’s life and whomever she came in contact with, she would brag on the preaching of her pastor and the love she had for her church.

At River Point Nursing Home, Jackie was one of the main soloists and she loved praising and singing without any hesitation. A couple of her favorite songs that she sang were, “Through It All” and “Going Up Yonder!”

After Jackie’s biological mother passed, her Aunt Helen became her second mother. She visited Jackie very often, driving her around, taking her shopping, and dining in many restaurants. If you saw one, you saw the other. Later, she was still able to visit Jackie every week because Evangelist Katheryn Munden lovingly and willingly became the chauffeur for them both.

Jackie was preceded in death by her mother, Ms. Mary Hughes; grandmother, Ms. Eva Johnson; aunts, Ms. Evelyn Hughes, Ms. Clara Hill, and Mrs. Lillie Barber; uncles, Mr. James Hughes, Dec. Wilbur Barber, and Bishop Herman Clark Sr.; and cousins, Mr. Stanley Hughes, Mrs. Sandra Cason, Dr. Vernon Clark, and Mr. Garland Barber.

Leaving to remember and celebrate her life are her aunt, Mother Helen Hughes Clark, her cousins (who Jackie referred to as her siblings), Dr. Herman Clark, Jr. (Reuthenia) and Dr. Phyllis Clark-Freeman (Anthony), Mr. Michael Hughes (Vivian), Ms. Sheila Murray, and Ms. Bridgett Harris. Jackie was also fortunate to have many other loving cousins and other close family and friends. Special thanks are offered to Herman and Phyllis who became her caretakers while she was a resident at River Point Nursing Home.

She fought a good fight, she finished her course, she kept the faith. And now, Jackie will receive her Crown of Glory.

Lovingly, the Family.