Franklin Fletcher Hughes Funeral services for Franklin Fletcher Hughes will be held Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home Chapel, with Dr. David Michael and Reverend John Rohrer officiating. Burial will be in Hebron Baptist Church Cemetery with Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Mr. Fletcher departed this life on Sunday, November 1, 2009, with his wife, Mary Frances Hughes by his side. He was welcomed into heaven by his parents, Fletcher and Florrie Hughes and many of his Christian friends and relatives. Franklin attended schools in Lauderdale County where his father was a teacher and principal. He went to Mississippi State University where he gained a B.S. in Animal Husbandry and a Masters in Entomology. His education was interrupted by WWII. He enlisted in the Army in 1942. Franklin trained soldiers in the USA and later in Europe. He served honorably in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe with the 351st ORD CO and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He received his honorary discharge as a Tech Sergeant in January 1946. He then re-entered MSU and graduated. Franklin was employed by the Mississippi State Extension Service from 1950 to 1977 serving in Jackson, Covington, and Jeff Davis Counties. He earned many honors during his Extension career. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the NCAA in Baltimore, Maryland in November 1977. Franklin was a devoted Christian, serving his Lord in Baptist churches where he worked. He was a member of Prentiss Baptist Church for over 40 years serving as Sunday School teacher,superintendent, and deacon. He was very active in the Gideon ministry and began a jail ministry in Prentiss, MS where he served as chaplain for several years. He enlisted his pastor and later R.A. Coulter to assist in Bible teaching. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary Frances, children, Ben Hughes and his wife Lorraine, Maretta Anne Rohrer and her husband John, Sr., grandchildren, Nora Hughes Watson, Maureen, Lauren, and Mary Kate Hughes; John Jr., Stephen, David, Paul and Joshua Rohrer. He is also survived by a brother, Raymond Hughes and his wife Rachel of Clinton, MS and several nieces and nephews. Family request memorials be made to the Gideons International, or the Prentiss Baptist Church "Together We Build Fund", or the Baptist State Missions Fund. Visitation will be held Tuesday 6:30-8:30 at the funeral home.
