Cecelia Ann Cates Hughes, 89
June 22, 1936 – January 18, 2026
Baton Rouge, LA – Ms. Cecelia Ann Cates Hughes, age 89, left her earthly home to abide with her heavenly Father Sunday, January 18, 2026 from The Crossing Hospice Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She was born in Tupelo, MS, June 22, 1936, to the marital union of Fred William Cates and Faye Evans Cates, pioneer Lee County families. Cecelia was a 1954 graduate of Tupelo High School and continued her studies at Miller Hankins Business School in Memphis, TN. She was employed by Illinois Central Gulf Railroad as an Executive Secretary while living in Memphis, a job she loved. Cecelia met the love of her life, James Howard Hughes, and they were married in February, 1958.
Cecelia and Howard moved from Memphis to Baton Rouge in 1967. She accepted a job offer from Humble Oil Company, later becoming Exxon. She had a long and successful career working in the office at the Exxon Refinery in Baton Rouge. Cecelia and Howard bought a garden home in 1975 in the Shenandoah Community of East Baton Rouge where they called home. Cecelia was a lifelong member of the Baptist Church with a strong faith and devotion to her Lord and Savior. She had a tender and generous heart, always loyal to family and friends. She loved her fur babies, Morris, Mopp, and Mardi. Cecelia also made sure there was food and water for the birds who visited her backyard.
Cece wrote beautiful poetry, always put her best foot forward in all that she did, enjoyed shopping and always “dressed to the nines”. She had a fondness for clocks, and eye for antiques, and loved stuffed animals.
Cecelia had a 3 year period of declining health which took away her ability to live at home alone, and she moved to Garden Assisted Living in April 2022 where she lived until just recently. She adjusted well to her new surroundings, making new friends, and making the best of what life had to offer.
Cecelia was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Faye Cates; husband, James Howard Hughes; siblings, Fred William Cates, Jr.; stillborn, Lonnie Cates, Carey Cates, and Sara Jane Wilson; cousins, Mary Elizabeth Caldwell, and Thomas (Buddy) Cates. She is survived by her nieces and nephews, Aimee Cates of Memphis, TN, Susan Cates of Mon Louis Island, AL, Chad Cates and Matt Cates of Lancaster, TX, Kip Smith (Paige) of Tupelo, MS and Kym Waldrop of Tupelo, MS, and Jeffrey Wilson (Amanda) of Verona; cousins, Betsy Campbell White of Tupelo, MS, and Robert Cates of Tupelo, MS; her God-son Barry Bryan and his wife Kim of Denham Springs, LA.
A heart felt thank you to Missy, Margaret, and Amanda, including all the staff at Garden View Assisted Living in Baton Rouge; her physician, Greg Ferrara, M.D. for exceptional medical advice, kind and compassionate care for decades; all the caregivers from Always Best Care with special mention of Ms. Janis Williams, close friend and caregiver who dearly loved CeCe and was loved dearly in return, and her good friends and neighbors who looked after her when she was no longer able to drive.
Memorials in memory of Cecelia may be sent to https://tupeloleehumane.org, P.O. Box 2143, Tupelo, MS 38803 or website – Tupeloleehumane.org. Expressions of love and sympathy may be posted at hollandfuneraldirectors.com/Cecelia Hughes obituary. Holland Funeral Directors are honored to serve their friends.
Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.
