BIOGRAPHY

Hughes was born as Emma W. Daman in the U.S. state of Georgia on 2 March 1913. At the age of 17, on 28 June 1930, she married Richard Hughes in Marion, Georgia. The couple had four children: Felton, Richard Jr., Randolph, and Sarah.

Hughes worked as a maid, while her husband was a farm labourer. In the 1970s, she moved to Pennsylvania to be closer to her family, living in Manchester, a neighbourhood of Pittsburgh, before moving into a nursing home in North Hills in 2011.

At the time of her 106th birthday, Hughes had 30 grandchildren and over 30 great-grandchildren. She enjoyed quilting and sewing, and was very religious, with “Amazing Grace” being her favourite hymn. She never smoked or drank alcohol, but used snuff, a smokeless tobacco, before giving it up when she moved into the nursing home.

Hughes died on 2 March 2023, her 110th birthday. Only one of her children, Richard, outlived her. She was also survived by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

Hughes was first noted for her longevity on her 106th birthday, but was not reported again until her granddaughter posted about her on Facebook on her 110th birthday. Later that day, she reported that Hughes had died.

ATTRIBUTION

GALLERY