Fheayvuuret Auntie! Here's another one. I was just talking about you with Cousin Connie the other day. Life has not been the same since you left us. I really would love to talk to you about so many things. I want to hug you and kiss you and talk about Babu and how much we both loved him. I miss your group on lunch ladies and you'll be glad to know that Aunt Jackie is out here living her best life! Our schools are in trouble...that's all I have to say about that. So much has happened since you left but your memory and your legacy is very much alive. Love and miss you so much. ~PK

Phaeyvhoureit Auntie,

You have been on my mind soooo much! Especially since you have a new great-grand. Your dream for a family reunion on the west coast finally came to life last year. I met some relatives for the first time.

Uncle Billy has made his transition. Unexpectedly and unfortunately, last February...before we were to have reunion in May. He was soooooooooo looking forward to it. Auntie, our family glue is gone.

There's so much more I would love to share. I will send updates from time to time. Maybe generations from now, someone will look here and read about your amazing legacy.

Loving you always

PK

I miss you Auntie.

I can’t believe it’s been 4 years since you’ve been gone. There’s not a day that passes by where I don’t think of you! Our many texts back and forth, long laugh-filled convos and the numerous lunch dates we had. There’s still many things I wish I could share with you, life updates, stories, and funny memories. I love and miss you immensely BJJG!

I missed you this week Aunti Jo and then Uncle Billy reminded me why. I wanted to pick up the phone and call you this week and ask you about family things....But you were not there.... I Miss You Aunti.

In the 1980's, I was driving down 48th Street east of Crenshaw when I saw a woman leading a parade of people banging on a large metal pan with a big metal spoon. I saw a sign that said vote for me. Later I picked up the newspaper and learned that a Black woman was running against 6th District City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter. I thought, that was the Black woman I saw marching down 48th Street. I did know not know her name but I knew she was the woman who I wanted to represent Leimert Park. I proudly voted for Virginia Taylor Hughes when I saw her name on the election ballot.

Years laters as Assistant Principal of Washington Prep, she became one of my most trusted friends and ally. Virginia Taylor Hughes guided me through many years of success as a school administrator. She nurtured and disciplined me as if I were her son. She took me under her wings and protected me from anything including myself. She called me "Solomon" although she was the wise one. I will forever be indebted to Ms. Hughes for her love, respect, honesty and encouragement. Washington Prep, the City of Los Angeles and this universe is a better place because of her courageous life. Virginia Taylor Hughes will live in my heart and the hearts of all those she touched forever.

Years later, when you're going through your belongings and find gifts you had purchased to give to your Phaevourt Enti Jo...but you cannot...and you find your eyes watering because you will not be able to watch her eyes light up when you present her present. Then you remember she will neiver sing "Happy Birthday" to you on your birthday and you cannot hug her and squeeze her and exchange messages in a language that the two of you created ...

I am so thankful for the time I had with her... I am so thankful for her love. I am so glad that I was able to love her and to know without a doubt how much she loved me. Continue to rest in power Auntie Jo!

I'm not sure how to make the link work...I'll look into it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul5TCCIOZUk

I'm not sure if the link will work nor where it would be best to post it. It's a link to the song I loved to hear you sing most. I wish now that I had recorded you singing it on one of the multiple occasions when you graced me with your UNIQUE, POWERFUL and most melodious voice! I really miss you Auntie Jo. I miss you more than I can express. Although I know that you know that I loved you. I don't know if you knew how much. I wish I would have done more...much more. Rest in power. I still find it hard to believe that you're gone and it's already been an entire year. Much MUCH love PA from PK

I can't believe its been a year now that Aunti Joe went to sleep in Jesus.
I think of you often and I smile. We had some good times and I still miss our long talks. I miss your "TAH-DOs" at Thanksgiving time. I miss your Cornbread Dressing...You told me the secret ingredient. That memory just now made me smile. I MISS YOU MUCH!!!!! You were The Glue...
Love, Niecie_Jan Jan

Happy birthday to you Sugarman a l missed you very much.You left me to see but you are looking down on me. Love Quarantina in her play house'

MIL,

I will always love you!

DIL

Happy Birthday! today would have been your 70th birthday! i was so honored to be with you to celebrate your 69th birthday! Today I celebrate you and honor your memory. It's still hard to believe that you are not here,but I know we will see you again on the other side. You will always live in my heart forever. Love you and miss you all the time! Thank you for loving me when I was unlovable! and for the years of wisdom that you poured into me. I am forever grateful for everything you ever did for me. i will never forget you! submitted on January 18,2016.

You were loving, caring and exceptionally rare,
All of the qualities you possessed, it was hard for another granny to ever compare

I would sometimes forget that you were my granny because you were such a great friend,
You were there for me and others too, very consistent and loyal to the end

We encouraged each other and always texted multiple times throughout the day,
You were always reminding me to keep God with me every step of the way

You'd always ask if I knew any grandmothers that are cool and text like you,
Even if I did, I'm sure they couldn't love as much as you too

Little Miss Melted Heart and Bed rest was my name,
you spoke the truth with absolutely no shame

Our last conversation will always be my favorite, we laughed and talked about everything under the sun
All of my memories with you include nothing but fun

Our lunch dates and word games of Super Text Twist, those are also things that I'll sorely miss
And how we would close each encounter with a hug and kiss

At the end of our texts each day,
We would always say,
"Even when you're no longer here with me, ill continue to love you to infinity times infinity"

- Bestest Janay Jones Grandmother's Granddaughter

Ms. Hughes will be remembered for her generous heart and her joyful spirit. Many people hold her memory close because she held them close. Condolences to her family and many, many friends---

A Tribute to Virginia JoAn Taylor Hughes.    Our beloved Sugarmama now sings sweetly in God' s celestialbchoir, while the echoof her love parades forever in the hearts of those who love her. Loving and devoted mother and wife, beloved and treasured daughter, sister, and friend, anchored Christian, neighbor, confidant, with a dedication and fellowship with God that cradled and kept her strong, her smile gave a journey of hope to all as she sojourned through life.  We miss u Virginia JoAn Taylor Hughes..Your V ibrant thirst for life is an I nspiration to all who in R are destiny was part of your loving G race. Yourhope I gnited a power that N urtured our spirits and I nvited us to try harderinour own journeys A nchoredby your loving embrace.  J oy followed your every footstep. O n stages of trual and tribulation you triaumphed and A lways positioned your power in grace to N ourish us with your unconditional love. T ime and trouble could nit hold u captive. A ngels seemed to ligt a candle that would Y ield a prayer or a promise that fave all L ives you touched meaning. Your O scillating momentum fave R ise to a unity that held us paused in thankfulness. H ow blessed we are that you shared your U nique courage and compassion in our destiny and G ave us meaning beyond God's grace filled with H eaven's praise. Your rare E nergy and enthusiasm caresses us S till to savor the treasure you will always be I our lives. We love u Sugarmama. God lovesyou best -Peacefully rest your spirit and song will live on as we tryour besyto continually honor you in love. With all our live ' The family and especially the Red Boas

Hi Sugarman I missing you so much. I met Ms. Hughes at Washington High School in 2000. We were sitting outside at lunch time talking she was sick than. She didn't know until she went to the doctor and found that she had breast cancer. That how l met Sugarman been a daughter to her. She was a very smart strong women. Love Quarantina

Where do I begin?????As her Oldest Niece and #1 Brothers #1, My Aunt Joann was truly one of a kind. We had our issues but made our peace. When I was down she would remind me of the Stock I came from as a family of faith who loved God with all of our fiber and being. Niecey she would say, you come from Good Stock and you know the Lord has you, The Lord will sustain You, The LORD!!! She would always have a word from the Lord to remind me I need to show God I have faith of a mustard seed in letting go and let God. One specific time and space I remember I was really upset about something one of those times I saw no end in sight and felt hopeless. I called her and she asked me point blank had I prayed about the situation. I said no, she and I will NEVER forget this lesson from her to me and I pass this lesson along to my Students and Mentees. When you pray you take your problems and burdens to the Altar and leave them there. Take everything you have and are to GOD and leave it there and walk away. You see your faith is trusting God will take care of you and your little situation and he needs NOT YOUR HELP!! If you have faith of a mustard seed and take your burdens to God, you have to trust that he will always take care of you but he does not need your help!!! God has it and you are in the way if you think he needs your help with your issues or problems. So Niecey you get on your knees and pray lay your issues at the feet of JESUS at his Altar and leave it there. Walk away Niecey, walk away and wait on God to do his thing. I was about 22 or 23 when we had this conversation. She said she learned that from Elder Lorenzo Paytee who proceeded her in sleep by 4 days. So once again Elder Paytee our beloved Pastor, Mentor, Educator and Extended family touched me through Aunt Joanne. They both will be sorely missed. Thank you GOD for allowing me to speak to her one last time the Friday before her passing to check on her, after Elders passing, we had a nice chat. Her last words to me were Niecey behave yourself........Sleep Well Auntie because you have King Jesus to meet Soon and Very Soon with Grand Daddy, Bibi, Aunt Katherine,Little Baby Boy, Daddy and Uncle Leon and a host of other family and friends !!!! Jesus will be the next face she will gaze upon when she wakes up. Glory to God in the highest. GOD IS GOOD!!! ALL THE TIME, ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!!! See you in that Great Gettin Up Morning and you will Walk Around Heaven All Day!!!!!!!

I will always remember you, as full of life, love, and happiness. You made my birthday very special, you were a true blessing. God Bless the family, Virginia will be missed, but not forgotten.

Auntie Jo aka Phayvoreet Ayuntee,

It is my pleasure and honor to do all that I can to honor and cherish your memory. I have so much to say to you and I know that you loved me unconditionally. I love you more than I can ever express. You will live on in my memories and in my actions and I will do my best to make you proud.

More later,

Phaevarit Kneeci