Leah Lyle Woodard Hughes, 81, of Decatur, died quitely on Sunday, August 30, 2020 at USA elder care. She was born October 31,1938. Her parents were Thomas Betts Woodard, Jr. of Tuscumbia and Decatur, and Leah Lyle Woodard of Decatur. Lyle’s family history is rooted in this area. Her mother, at one time, owned property that is now Decatur County Club. Her father, while living in Tuscumbia, was a childhood playmate of Helen Keller. Lyle graduated from Decatur High School in 1956. She attended Florence State University and the University of Alabama before dropping out due to the death of her father. She was a secretary at the Army Ballistic Missile Agency where she met her husband to be, James Curtis (Curt) Hughes. They were married for 60 wonderful years. As a housewife and mother of two children, she returned to school and earned her BS in Nursing from University of Alabama in Huntsville. She went on to teach psychiatric nursing and continued, for a number of years, as a mental health counselor. She was a lifelong member of Central Methodist Church where she sang with the chancel choir and served as the church secretary during the tenure of Rev. John Rutland. Rev. Rutland was a mentor and a great inspiration to her and her husband, Curt. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Betts Woodard, Jr. and Leah Lyle Woodard; her brother, Thomas Betts Woodard, II (Betty), from Reform, AL.; her sister, Julia Dent Stewart (John), from Bainbridge, GA. Lyle is survived by her husband, James Curtis Hughes, Sr.; her children, James Hughes, Jr. and Allyson Virden (Chris) of Knoxville; her grandchildren, Samuel James Hughes, Haley Elizabeth Hughes, and Ollin Edward Hughes; her nieces and nephews, John Farley Stewart (Elizabeth), William David Stewart, Thomas Julian Stewart (Debra), Thomas Betts Woodard III, Karen Woodard Arnold (David), Sue Woodard Morcos, and Michael Woodard; her great nieces, Jojo Work Allen Healy (Brian), Beverly Allen Byard (Jim), Megan Allen Willet (Ashley); and numerous other beloved extended family members. A graveside memorial service will be held at Roselawn Cemetery on Thursday, September 10, at 11 a.m., followed by a drive-by receiving of friends at Central United Methodist Church from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.. The family will receive friends at the Grant St. entrance. They request attendees please wear a mask and practice social distancing. Memorial gifts may be made to the Pastors Benevolent Fund, the choir at CUMC, or a charitable organization of your choice.
