Former Slaughter mayor and World War II and Korean War veteran Edward H. “Paw Paw Ed” Hughes, 95,died Sept. 20 at his Slaughter home.
He grew up in Kentwood, the middle and only surviving child of Elmer and Fannie Mae Alford Hughes.
He served with the U.S. Navy during WWII and the Korean War. In October of 1950 he married his wife, Barbara Wall, and they had six children. In 1957, he moved his family to Slaughter and established Hughes Garage, which later evolved into Hughes Texaco.
During the gasoline shortage of the 1970’s, the family converted the service station into a convenience store that offered gasoline, groceries, fried chicken, and Hughes' homemade hamburgers. He retired in 2017 from Paw Paw's Store.
He was mayor of Slaughter for more than 25 years. He was a member and former deacon of Slaughter First Baptist Church.
Visitation is Tuesday at Slaughter First Baptist on from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by religious services at 11 a.m. conducted by the Rev. Basil Wicker. Interment immediately follows at Alford Cemetery in Kentwood.