Tarva Naomi Davis Hughey

Norris, South Carolina

Tarva Naomi Davis Hughey died at the age of 96, on January 17, 2025, in her home in Norris, SC. Married for 60 years, she is survived by her 3 sons and their wives, Tab (Darlene), John (Rene), and David (Vicki), and 9 grandchildren (Carmen, Lauren, Joshua, Valyn, John Lee, Christopher, Nolan, Sarah, and Anna), and 8 great-grandchildren (Emmaline, Jackson, Cecily, Landon, Willie, Finley, Bryson, and Millie), and her brother, Morris Lee Davis (Vinelle).

Naomi is predeceased by her husband, W. Talmadge Hughey, her parents, John Lee Davis and Tarva Pecola Harrison Davis, her sisters Marna Benton (Red), Gertrude Davis, Vivian Atcheson (Sharp), Hardie Medders (Glover), Euelle Bell (Tommy), Mae Belle Eargle (Pete), Earline Rickman-Lovin (Wesley), and her brothers Charles (Cynthia), and Moody (Billie Faye).

Naomi was born in Stanton, Alabama, on September 3, 1928, and born again at age 10 at the altar in the Wesleyan Methodist church in Stanton, Alabama. She fully committed her life to the Lord at age 20, during her first year of teaching school. Her relationship with the Lord affected every step she took, in her career, marriage, family, and church life. Her heart is reflected in her life goals: to marry a Christian man, to have a Christian home, and to raise a family that would make the world a better place and that would glorify the Lord.

After attending public school, first in Stanton, then in Selma, she attended and graduated from the Wesleyan Methodist Academy, part of Central Wesleyan College, in 1946, and subsequently received her Associate of Arts degree from Central Wesleyan in 1948. She began her teaching career in Alabama, first at Cropwell School from 1948 to 1950, then in Pell City, Alabama, while working on her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Alabama and Jacksonville State.

She was married to W. Talmadge Hughey on May 19, 1951; she finished teaching on a Friday, and got married the next day! The new couple lived in Gaffney, SC, then Spartanburg, SC, from 1951 to 1955; during these years, Naomi studied Spanish at Wofford College, graduated from Limestone College in 1953, and taught school in Spartanburg District 7 – until the first baby arrived in 1955. The Hugheys moved to Laurens, SC, in 1956, had 2 more children, then moved to Enoree, SC, in 1963, and lived there until 2010. Following the birth of her third son, she returned to the classroom, teaching in Laurens, SC, 1968 – 1990, receiving her Master’s degree from Clemson University in 1974. The home and property in Enoree was truly a gift from God for children, extended family, church cookouts, baptisms, and numerous guests throughout the years.

Naomi served the Lord faithfully and generously: during the first 5 years of life in Enoree, she cared for her father-in-law, Howard Ladson Hughey, providing meals and laundry care. An excellent accompanist, she played piano at church starting at age 13 in Selma Wesleyan Church, then at Laurens Wesleyan Church from 1956 till 2010, except when absent for birthing children! She served as a local church board (LBA) member and as a board member at the state level (DBA) for 11 years. She served as the president of the Wesleyan Women’s Missionary Society for the state for 3 years. In her local church, she served as a Sunday school teacher, children’s ministry (CYC) director, took Sunday school material to shut-ins, took people home for dinner, entertained visiting preachers and missionaries, and washed clothes for the sick.

She used her God-given talents for hospitality and generosity all her life, enriching the lives of all those who sat around her table. She worked untiringly to serve others. Now, her labors are ended, and she is receiving her eternal heavenly reward.

A memorial service will be held 2:00 PM at Alive Wesleyan Church, 136 Chastain Road, Central, SC, on Saturday, February 1, 2025, and the family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. Prior to the memorial service, a private committal will be held in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Laurens, SC.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The John Lee and Tarva Davis Endowed Scholarship Fund at Southern Wesleyan University.

Condolences can be expressed to the family at www.thekennedymortuary.com.

The Kennedy Mortuary and Crematory of Laurens.

died at the age of 96, on January 17, 2025, in her home in Norris, SC. Married for 60 years, she is survived by her 3 sons and their wives, Tab (Darlene), John (Rene), and David (Vicki), and 9 grandchildren (Carmen, Lauren, Joshua, Valyn, John Lee, Christopher, Nolan, Sarah, and Anna), and 8 great-grandchildren (Emmaline, Jackson, Cecily, Landon, Willie, Finley, Bryson, and Millie), and her brother, Morris Lee Davis (Vinelle).

Naomi is predeceased by her husband, W. Talmadge Hughey, her parents, John Lee Davis and Tarva Pecola Harrison Davis, her sisters Marna Benton (Red), Gertrude Davis, Vivian Atcheson (Sharp), Hardie Medders (Glover), Euelle Bell (Tommy), Mae Belle Eargle (Pete), Earline Rickman-Lovin (Wesley), and her brothers Charles (Cynthia), and Moody (Billie Faye).

Naomi was born in Stanton, Alabama, on September 3, 1928, and born again at age 10 at the altar in the Wesleyan Methodist church in Stanton, Alabama. She fully committed her life to the Lord at age 20, during her first year of teaching school. Her relationship with the Lord affected every step she took, in her career, marriage, family, and church life. Her heart is reflected in her life goals: to marry a Christian man, to have a Christian home, and to raise a family that would make the world a better place and that would glorify the Lord.

After attending public school, first in Stanton, then in Selma, she attended and graduated from the Wesleyan Methodist Academy, part of Central Wesleyan College, in 1946, and subsequently received her Associate of Arts degree from Central Wesleyan in 1948. She began her teaching career in Alabama, first at Cropwell School from 1948 to 1950, then in Pell City, Alabama, while working on her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Alabama and Jacksonville State.

She was married to W. Talmadge Hughey on May 19, 1951; she finished teaching on a Friday, and got married the next day! The new couple lived in Gaffney, SC, then Spartanburg, SC, from 1951 to 1955; during these years, Naomi studied Spanish at Wofford College, graduated from Limestone College in 1953, and taught school in Spartanburg District 7 – until the first baby arrived in 1955. The Hugheys moved to Laurens, SC, in 1956, had 2 more children, then moved to Enoree, SC, in 1963, and lived there until 2010. Following the birth of her third son, she returned to the classroom, teaching in Laurens, SC, 1968 – 1990, receiving her Master’s degree from Clemson University in 1974. The home and property in Enoree was truly a gift from God for children, extended family, church cookouts, baptisms, and numerous guests throughout the years.

Naomi served the Lord faithfully and generously: during the first 5 years of life in Enoree, she cared for her father-in-law, Howard Ladson Hughey, providing meals and laundry care. An excellent accompanist, she played piano at church starting at age 13 in Selma Wesleyan Church, then at Laurens Wesleyan Church from 1956 till 2010, except when absent for birthing children! She served as a local church board (LBA) member and as a board member at the state level (DBA) for 11 years. She served as the president of the Wesleyan Women’s Missionary Society for the state for 3 years. In her local church, she served as a Sunday school teacher, children’s ministry (CYC) director, took Sunday school material to shut-ins, took people home for dinner, entertained visiting preachers and missionaries, and washed clothes for the sick.

She used her God-given talents for hospitality and generosity all her life, enriching the lives of all those who sat around her table. She worked untiringly to serve others. Now, her labors are ended, and she is receiving her eternal heavenly reward.

A memorial service will be held 2:00 PM at Alive Wesleyan Church, 136 Chastain Road, Central, SC, on Saturday, February 1, 2025, and the family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. Prior to the memorial service, a private committal will be held in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Laurens, SC.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The John Lee and Tarva Davis Endowed Scholarship Fund at Southern Wesleyan University.

Condolences can be expressed to the family at www.thekennedymortuary.com.

The Kennedy Mortuary and Crematory of Laurens.