Lura Pitts Hughes

Lura Pitts Hughes, 103, passed away August 27, 2019. A native of Greer, SC, she was the daughter of Lura Langston and Robert Murray Hughes.

Pitts graduated from Furman University in 1939 and began her career in Baptist Student Ministry at the former Georgia Baptist School of Nursing, going on to serve at Montevallo State, Wake Forest, Auburn and Vanderbilt. She valued the Biblical imperative of seeing all people as equal and worthy of respect and was instrumental in helping many students and leaders embrace the importance of integration early in the Civil Rights Movement.

As an associate of the former Baptist Home Mission Board, she served in the Tennessee Department of Student Work and as Dean of Women at Southern Seminary in Louisville. Pitts completed her professional career in Atlanta working in Special Mission Ministries for the Home Mission Board.

There is no way to count the hundreds of young people in the universities and seminaries as well as her nieces, nephews and the children of her dear friends, who were impacted by her mentoring, love and prayers throughout the years. Many kept in touch and she was called “mother to the world” by those who were impacted by her unwavering commitment to Christ.

Pitts is predeceased by her parents; her brothers Robert S. Hughes, James L. Hughes, Robert Murray Hughes Jr.; and nephew Alan Hughes. She is survived by 11 nieces and nephews, 26 grandnieces and nephews, 32 great grandnieces and nephews, one great-great grandnephew, and her dear friends, the Woolfs, the Hammonds and the Bells who lovingly cared for her. Pitts loved and was also grateful to the Cabans whose love, wisdom and support blessed her last years.

The funeral service will be held November 9 at 2 p.m. at Oakhurst Baptist Church, 222 East Lake Drive, Decatur, Georgia. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lincoln Memorial University, Cumberland Gap Parkway, PO Box 2005, Harrogate, Tennessee 37752.